Denver Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency (CASR)

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2023)

Total Carbon Emissions:331,154 mt CO2e reduction (2021-2023)

Waste Generated:Five million fewer disposable bags used in 2023 compared to 2022

Reduced emissions in Denver by 331,154 metric tons (mt CO2e) from 2021-2023.
Planted 1,117 trees in heat-vulnerable neighborhoods from 2022-2023.
Initiated 16 solar gardens to power Denver and generate utility bill savings for low-income residents.
Reduced disposable bag use by five million in 2023 compared to 2022.
Reduced disposable cup use at 14 events by an average of 5,300 cups in 2023.

Invested $20 million from the Climate Protection Fund toward social equity outcomes in 2023.
Engaged over 100,000 residents to learn about their climate needs.
Trained 863 Denverites for new green jobs.
Enhanced sustainability practices in over 400 local businesses through Certifiably Green Denver.
Supported 78 community-based organizations and small minority- and women-owned businesses with Certifiably Green Denver Equity Funding.

Energize Denver Ordinance passed in 2021, aiming for a 30% reduction in energy use in covered buildings by 2030.
Denver Energy Code (2022) went into effect in May 2023, aiming for zero emissions in new buildings by 2030.
Green Buildings Ordinance (GBO) in effect since 2018, requiring sustainable practices for new buildings over 25,000 square feet.

Long-term Goals:

Medium-term Goals:

Achieving a 30% reduction in energy use in covered buildings by 2030 (Energize Denver).
Requiring all new buildings and homes to achieve zero emissions with systemwide renewables by 2030 (Denver Energy Code).

Short-term Goals:

Not on target to meet the goal of zero emissions by 2040 or milestones of 40% reduction by 2025 and 65% reduction by 2030.
Climate risk and vulnerability efforts are still growing and do not yet fully meet our needs.

Investing in research to expand an advanced, low-carbon district energy system and assess how to transform the City-owned vehicle fleet to low- and zero-emission cars, trucks, and equipment.
Sustaining what works by continuing to offer rebates and vouchers and supporting implementation of our policies.
Collaborating on high-impact policy change to ensure our solutions are implemented at-scale.
Scaling up successful projects, including expanding workforce training resources, Environmental Justice Support Grants, and our tree planting initiative.
Building CASR’s capacity by hiring new staff to better serve Denver, including creating a data-informed measurement and evaluation team that tracks and shares information to improve the performance of initiatives.
Engaging and serving Denverites through enhancing our community engagement and environmental justice work and ensuring that all stakeholders receive efficient customer service and clear information from our team.

One of the top twelve most climate resilient cities in the United States (USA Today)
A-List global climate leader (CDP)