New polling shows broad, deep support for state-level climate action

State presentation makes clear Colorado has work to do to hit pollution reduction targets

DENVER – Today, at the first Air Quality Control Commission meeting since a summer of historically bad air quality across Colorado, staff at the Colorado Energy Office presented data that made clear Colorado has work to do in order to meet its science-based targets to reduce air pollution and fight climate change. The state’s climate targets were passed and signed into law by Governor Jared Polis in 2019 and strengthened during the 2021 legislative session.

“This summer was defined by dirty air and a record number of ozone days. Our leaders will be defined by how they address this crisis,” said Kelly Nordini, executive director of Conservation Colorado. “Coloradans recognize that climate change is already impacting our state and they overwhelmingly support hitting our science-based targets. Our leaders must act with urgency and meet this moment.”

New polling from Global Strategy Group and Conservation Colorado shows:

• An eight-point increase in just the last 8 months in the percent of Colorado voters who strongly agree that climate change is already having a serious impact on the state,

• Overwhelming support — 73% of respondents —  for the state hitting its climate targets, including half of respondents saying it’s “very important” to hit the targets, and

• Widespread political support for hitting the state’s climate targets including three-quarters of Unaffiliated voters, almost half of Republicans, and more than 90% of Democrats.

“When we asked Coloradans about actions we should take to improve our air quality, the most frequent response focused on reducing pollution, particularly from cars and trucks,” Nordini continued. “Thankfully, reducing transportation pollution, increasing transportation options, and cutting pollution from the oil and gas industry are next in line on the state’s agenda.” 

This fall, the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Air Quality Control Commission will consider rulemakings for the transportation, oil and gas, and industrial sectors. These rulemakings are critical steps in achieving the sector-specific climate pollution goals laid out in state law. 

Transportation: By a two to one margin 66% to 27% — Colorado voters agreed that, “The Colorado Department of Transportation should implement policies that would encourage more use of walking, biking, and mass transit.”

Oil and Gas: Coloradans believe by a two-to-one margin that the state government should do more to ensure that the industry is meeting their pollution targets and cleaning up their pollution. By a three-to-one margin, Coloradans agree that oil and gas companies should be required to pay more to clean up their pollution.

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