October 2021
Photo courtesy of Mike Scheid via Unsplash
The Covid-19 pandemic exemplified the importance of resilience and adaptation in the face of uncertainty. We now have the opportunity to implement resilience and adaptation measures to prevent the adverse effects of another global crisis, climate change.
Adaptation and growth are key themes of this newsletter. At the beginning of 2020, the Lotus project team began developing Routt County’s Climate Action Plan and demonstrated their ability to adapt and facilitate quality community engagement, despite the constraints of the pandemic. Over the summer, Lotus hired two new Research Associates and is looking to hire a Director of Climate Mitigation and Resilience Planning. As Lotus grows, we are reminded of the urgency of climate action and, equally important, the need to prepare and build resilience amid uncertainty.
“Building true resilience to climate change requires much more than a few changes to our systems and infrastructure. It requires a holistic transition, addressing every aspect of our lives and allowing us to learn, how to live with uncertainty”
Project Spotlight – Routt County Climate Action Plan
At the beginning of 2020, Lotus began the process of developing Routt County’s Climate Action Plan. The top priority for the Lotus team was balancing the needs, desires, and values of a politically, economically, and geographically diverse community.
To align the goals of the climate action plan, the team first worked to identify common community values. Due to the increasing concern over the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, the project team quickly shifted to virtual community engagement. Through online surveys and a virtual open house, Lotus facilitated conversations with community members to understand Routt County’s common goals for the Climate Action Plan. Respect for the landscape and the protection of ecological and cultural assets and heritage emerged as the chief community values.
Guided by these values, the team produced a comprehensive roadmap for climate action in Routt County. Additionally, the project team created an interactive website for the community. If all targets are met, the implementation of the plan is likely to result in a 74% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Lotus is Growing!
Nick Russell
Nick grew up in the Central Valley in Northern California, surrounded by fields of sunflowers, corn, and tomatoes. While in college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Nick stumbled into a geography class and immediately became enthralled with understanding human-environmental interactions. Prior to Lotus, Nick completed his M.A. in Applied Geography and Geospatial Science at CU-Denver where he studied political ecology and honed his skills in GIS, data analysis, and data visualization. Additionally, he worked both in the nonprofit world, conducting research for electric vehicle projects, and in the public sphere, quantifying air pollution impacts on plants in national parks.
Nick believes in a holistic approach to environmental issues and is passionate about applying GIS and data analysis to create equity-focused solutions. He is excited to help clients understand the sources of their greenhouse gas emissions and to develop innovative ways to communicate results to clients and the public.
Mallory Cannon
Mallory was born in Fort Collins, Colorado and grew up skiing and hiking in the Rocky Mountains. She attended school at the University of Denver where she majored in International Studies and worked as a researcher at the Pardee Center for International Futures. During her time at the Pardee Center, Mallory found her passion for climate change and human development research. She co-authored an academic journal article which was published in the journal, Climate and Development and a chapter of a USAID report on environmental change and food security.
Mallory also worked as a full-time researcher in Geneva, Switzerland where she organized a conference on environmental migration with representatives from the United Nations and the Red Cross. Most recently, Mallory became a Youth Ambassador for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).
After spending the last 2.5 years researching the devastating potential of climate change, Mallory is excited to leverage her research skills toward solution-driven climate work. She is grateful to have the opportunity to work with clients and colleagues dedicated to creating a more sustainable and resilient future.
Lotus is looking for a Director of Climate Mitigation and Resiliency Planning! Are you interested in joining our team? Apply today! Email Hillary Dobos (hillary@lotussustainability.com) with your materials or with any questions.
Favorite Fall Activity
Diane: My favorite fall activity, like many others, is watching the leaves change. I have always been drawn to the transitions in nature, especially in fall. I also enjoy the feeling of life slowing down a little bit this time of year, so I tend to take longer walks, drink more tea, and read more books.
Mallory: I love hiking in the fall! I think it is the most beautiful time of year in the mountains so I’d love to spend the day outside and end it with a scary movie and some pumpkin chocolate chip dessert.
Nick: My favorite fall activity is baking as much as I can with apples and pumpkin. I try a new pumpkin pie recipe every year with the goal of creating the ultimate pumpkin pie.
Emily: Hiking with my family in an aspen forest with changing leaves and returning home to cook a warm meal and drink apple cider!
Rachel: My favorite fall activity is going to the apple orchard and enjoying all kinds of apple goodies for the rest of the fall season! A very close second is watching football on Sundays, Go Pack Go!
Julia: When the weather turns I love to go hiking in the crisp air and then head home to enjoy a cup of tea and bake something sweet and delicious.
Hillary: I like to decorate for the upcoming holidays way earlier than socially acceptable.
Inspiring and Noteworthy News
This summer’s record-breaking heat-waves and rampant wildfires reminded us of the gravity of climate action. Correspondingly, this summer has been a powerful demonstration of resilience and action. Below are stories of hope and inspiration within our local, national, and global communities:
Local
The City of Denver is looking to implement more efficient heating and cooling systems. In partnership with Lotus, the Denver Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency released a Renewable Heating and Cooling Plan. The plan outlines steps to improve resiliency against rising temperatures, including providing access to air conditioning for the 30% of Denver homes that currently do not have an A/C unit. At the same time, the plan aims to address climate impacts through the installation of efficient and climate-friendly heating and cooling systems.
Beginning in 2022, the Colorado-based brand, Crocs, is redesigning their iconic shoes with bio-based rubber. The company also aims to be net-zero by 2030.
A hydrogen-fueling station is in the works in metro Denver. The Colorado based-company, New Day Hydrogen, is partnering with AAA Colorado to create a fueling station in Centennial or Lone Tree. The company is also working on providing “hydrogen in electrical micro grids, converting gas turbine power plants to plants that produce hydrogen, and using hydrogen as a process to recover curtailed wind and solar power.”
Xcel Energy recently developed electric vehicle incentives available to Colorado residents. There are incentives for workplaces and apartment buildings, and incentives specifically for those that make less than 60% of Colorado's median income.
Colorado just passed HB 21-1303, also known as the Buy Clean Colorado legislation. This bill states that "future public construction projects will have to meet clear environmental criteria for the use of seven common construction materials."
National:
A new report from RMI examines economic opportunities from renewable energy development in rural communities. The report finds that, by 2030, “annual revenue from wind and solar projects could exceed $60 billion- on par with expected revenues from the top three US agricultural commodities: corn, soy, and beef production.” The report also features stories of successful implementation of renewables across rural America.
Harvard University recently announced that it will divest all of its funds in fossil fuels. The investments currently make up 2% of the school's endowment.
A net-zero energy apartment building in New Orleans, housing low-income veterans, was able to keep the power on in the building even after Hurricane Ida made landfall.
A recent report from the US Department of Energy shows that Wind Energy was the largest source of new electricity generation in the US in 2020
National:
Procter and Gamble, the company behind popular cleaning and personal care brands like Tide, Bounty, and Gillette, has pledged to reach net-zero emissions across its operations and supply chain by 2040! It has also joined the UN's Race to Zero campaign and the World Economic Forum's Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders.
Canadian scientists have found a way to make chocolate-making more sustainable! The process eliminates the need for huge energy-consuming tempering machines and can help “level the playing field for small and medium-sized chocolate producers.In early August, the U.N Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). The grim report, titled, “Code Red” describes a bleak future without dramatic emissions reductions. However, the report also contains sentiments of hope, stating there is time to avoid the consequences of worst-case climate scenarios.
Environmental Justice News:
The White House is tackling the equity dimension of climate action, highlighting the economic and racial underpinnings of environmental issues. Cleveland is a leading city in this fight, with a climate action plan centered around social and racial equity.
Cleveland is pushing climate equity issues through a government-funded home improvement program. The project aims to renovate and rehabilitate homes in low-income neighborhoods. Redlining laws have created a disproportionate concentration of air pollution, lead contamination, mold, and low energy efficiency in low-income neighborhoods.
The State of Illinois recently passed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. The act outlines a plan for a carbon-free electric grid by 2045. The plan incorporates provisions to ensure the transition away from fossil fuels is equitable for all residents.