| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.39 |
| Liaison | Marianne Martin |
| Submission Date | Sept. 22, 2021 |
University of Colorado Boulder
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Kim
Calamino Director, Local Gov’t & Community Relations Office of Strategic Relations |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Local advocacy
No
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:
Regarding local level, addressing municipal only. As a state institution CU Boulder is not regulated by local policies, ordinances or codes. As such, the university generally refrains from efforts to influence local politics, policy and regulation. However CU Boulder has a long history of working collaboratively with the city of Boulder and other major area entities/agencies on shared sustainability goals. A collaborative working group on sustainability efforts was formalized between the Boulder Valley School District, CU Boulder, Boulder County and the City of Boulder in 2009 under the Alliance Sustainability Resolution, attached. The City of Boulder itself is a strong advocate and international leader in municipal action to address climate change. The City of Boulder has adopted policies, regulations and codes that advance those goals. In tandem, CU Boulder has been leading in sustainability for decades. CU Boulder has it's own environmental policy, adopted in 2004, available at this link: http://www.colorado.edu/policies/environmental-policy. CU Boulder Chancellor DiStefano issued a Call to Climate Action in the Spring of 2021, found here https://www.colorado.edu/chancellor/chancellor-call-climate-action. Among other actions, this Call includes the formation of a campus-wide University Sustainability Council, updating the campus Climate Action Plan in 2021-22 with a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. CU Student Government helped lead the charge in these actions and has established the Climate Justice Leadership Program for 2021-202 academic year. https://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/2021/04/09/apply-now-2021-22-climate-justice-leadership-program.
Regional advocacy
Yes
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:
Regarding regional level, addressing county only: As a state institution CU Boulder is not regulated by county policies, ordinances or codes. As such the university generally refrains from efforts to influence county politics, policy and regulation. However CU Boulder has a long history of working collaboratively with Boulder County on shared sustainability goals. A collaborative working ground on sustainability efforts was formalized between the Boulder Valley School District, CU Boulder, Boulder County and the City of Boulder in 2009 under the Alliance Sustainability Resolution, attached. Boulder County itself is a strong advocate and international leader in local government action to address climate change. The county has adopted policies, regulations and codes that advance those goals. In tandem CU Boulder has been leading in sustainability for decades. Boulder County is similarly focused on sustainability. CU Boulder does, however, have its own environmental policy, adopted in 2004, available at this link: http://www.colorado.edu/policies/environmental-policy. Regarding state level: The University of Colorado System Government Relations team supports campus sustainability efforts at the state and federal level.
Below are examples of sustainability-related legislation that the Government Relations team has supported and lobbied in recent years at the state level. These pieces of legislation focus on environmentally friendly practices, and focus on sustainability in a broader sense, like supporting the higher education infrastructure in the state of Colorado. CU supports legislation that increases access to higher education, promotes flexibility for institutions of higher ed, and legislation creates long-term solutions to workforce and economic needs in the state.
Environmental Sustainability:
HB19-1015 Recreation of the Colorado Water Institute (Rep. Arndt/Sen. Ginal)
The Colorado Water Institute (institute), a unit of Colorado State University (CSU), and the Advisory Committee on Water Research Policy automatically repealed effective July 1, 2017. This bill recreates the institute and advisory committee in state law. Through the Energy Collaboratory, CU is in a partnership with Colorado State and Colorado School of Mines working on water research and policy efforts. Status: Signed by the Governor.
HB17-1008 Graywater Regulation Exemption for Scientific Research (Rep. Arndt/Sen. Sonnenberg)
Under current law, the Water Quality Control Commission (commission) in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) adopts rules concerning water quality. One set of rules has been adopted for the control and use of graywater. Graywater refers to wastewater that, prior to being treated or combined with other wastewater, is collected from certain fixtures within residential, commercial, or industrial buildings for a beneficial use. This bill authorizes the use of graywater for scientific research involving human subjects and sets minimum requirements for conducting such research. Research must be conducted by or on behalf of an educational institution. Graywater research conducted pursuant to this bill's authority need not comply with the commission's water quality control regulations. Status: Signed by the Governor
HB10-1001 Renewable Energy Stds Solar Certification (Reps. Tyler, Apuan/Sens. Schwartz, Whitehead) Existing law creates a renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) under which certain electric utilities are required to generate an increasing percentage of their electricity from renewable sources, in a series of increments from 3% in 2007 to 20% in 2020 and thereafter. The bill boosts these RPS percentages to achieve 30% renewable generation by 2020 and requires a portion of the RPS to be met through a subset of renewable generation, "distributed generation" (DG). We worked with the Governor’s office to ensure language would be included in the bill to maximize CU’s rebates and incentives for renewable energy programs as suggested by the Boulder campus. This also opened the door for continued discussion with Xcel which is a great opportunity for our renewable energy programs. Status: Signed by the Governor
Below are examples of sustainability-related legislation that the Government Relations team has supported and lobbied in recent years at the state level. These pieces of legislation focus on environmentally friendly practices, and focus on sustainability in a broader sense, like supporting the higher education infrastructure in the state of Colorado. CU supports legislation that increases access to higher education, promotes flexibility for institutions of higher ed, and legislation creates long-term solutions to workforce and economic needs in the state.
Environmental Sustainability:
HB19-1015 Recreation of the Colorado Water Institute (Rep. Arndt/Sen. Ginal)
The Colorado Water Institute (institute), a unit of Colorado State University (CSU), and the Advisory Committee on Water Research Policy automatically repealed effective July 1, 2017. This bill recreates the institute and advisory committee in state law. Through the Energy Collaboratory, CU is in a partnership with Colorado State and Colorado School of Mines working on water research and policy efforts. Status: Signed by the Governor.
HB17-1008 Graywater Regulation Exemption for Scientific Research (Rep. Arndt/Sen. Sonnenberg)
Under current law, the Water Quality Control Commission (commission) in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) adopts rules concerning water quality. One set of rules has been adopted for the control and use of graywater. Graywater refers to wastewater that, prior to being treated or combined with other wastewater, is collected from certain fixtures within residential, commercial, or industrial buildings for a beneficial use. This bill authorizes the use of graywater for scientific research involving human subjects and sets minimum requirements for conducting such research. Research must be conducted by or on behalf of an educational institution. Graywater research conducted pursuant to this bill's authority need not comply with the commission's water quality control regulations. Status: Signed by the Governor
HB10-1001 Renewable Energy Stds Solar Certification (Reps. Tyler, Apuan/Sens. Schwartz, Whitehead) Existing law creates a renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) under which certain electric utilities are required to generate an increasing percentage of their electricity from renewable sources, in a series of increments from 3% in 2007 to 20% in 2020 and thereafter. The bill boosts these RPS percentages to achieve 30% renewable generation by 2020 and requires a portion of the RPS to be met through a subset of renewable generation, "distributed generation" (DG). We worked with the Governor’s office to ensure language would be included in the bill to maximize CU’s rebates and incentives for renewable energy programs as suggested by the Boulder campus. This also opened the door for continued discussion with Xcel which is a great opportunity for our renewable energy programs. Status: Signed by the Governor
National advocacy
Yes
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:
On behalf of the CU System, the Office of Government Relations (OGR) leads state and federal advocacy efforts for all four CU campuses. In recent years, OGR has advocated for a number sustainability-related policy efforts, including bolstering funding for climate-focused research, as well as other policies focused on sustainability in a broader sense, like supporting the higher education and research infrastructure in the state of Colorado and across the nation, increased access to health care, and increased support for state and federal student financial aid programs. In 2019:
• Expressed support for wildfire research, including the Joint Fire Science Program
• Expressed concern about USGS grant funding delays and expressed support for establishing a Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) as authorized by Congress
• In August, 2019, CU Boulder hosted a congressional field hearing held by the U.S. House of Representatives’ Select Committee on the Climate Crisis with sustainability a key focus of the hearing. (See testimony by CU Boulder Chief Sustainability Officer, Heidi VanGenderen) https://docs.house.gov/meetings/CN/CN00/20190801/109874/HHRG-116-CN00-Wstate-VanGenderenH-20190801.pdf
• Expressed support for wildfire research, including the Joint Fire Science Program
• Expressed concern about USGS grant funding delays and expressed support for establishing a Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) as authorized by Congress
• In August, 2019, CU Boulder hosted a congressional field hearing held by the U.S. House of Representatives’ Select Committee on the Climate Crisis with sustainability a key focus of the hearing. (See testimony by CU Boulder Chief Sustainability Officer, Heidi VanGenderen) https://docs.house.gov/meetings/CN/CN00/20190801/109874/HHRG-116-CN00-Wstate-VanGenderenH-20190801.pdf
International advocacy
Yes
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:
In early 2018, the University of Colorado Boulder joined 12 other major research universities as founding members of the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3), which has committed to mobilize members' collective resources and expertise to accelerate local and regional climate action in partnership with businesses, cities, and states.The University of Colorado Boulder became an inaugural member of the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3), a coalition of R-1 Universities from the U.S., Canada and Mexico who are committed to climate action and cross-sector collaboration. UC3 currently has a strong focus on the opportunities to advance climate solutions through successful models of collaboration between cities and universities in support of climate action. UC3 is also deliberating its role and participation in the upcoming COP-26 in Glasgow. More on UC3 can be found here: https://secondnature.org/initiative/uc3-coalition/
The University of Colorado Boulder has been a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UNSDSN) since 2019. The mission of UNSDSN is to promote integrated approaches to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, through education, research, policy analysis, and global cooperation. https://www.unsdsn.org/cities
CU Boulder and United Nations Human Rights announced plans for the inaugural Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit to be held on campus next fall over four days, bringing international leaders together in Boulder to address climate change as a human rights crisis.
The University of Colorado Athletic Department elevated its status as a national leader in sports sustainability becoming the first collegiate athletic department to announce it is joining the United Nations Race to Zero Campaign in 2019. Core to the commitment is CU Athletics' pledge to cut its greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and achieve Net Zero by 2040. This commitment was solidified with the signing of the UN Race to Zero in November 2021. CU Athletics' pledge follows the UN Sports For Climate Action Framework's announcement that it would call on all of its members to adopt the ambitious carbon reduction goals and enter the Race to Zero. See more about CU Boulder's Athletics Department commitments here: https://cubuffs.com/news/2019/5/13/general-cu-boulder-athletics-signs-u-n-agreement-boosting-sustainability.aspx https://cubuffs.com/news/2021/11/4/general-cu-athletics-joins-united-nations-race-to-zero-campaign.aspx https://racetozero.unfccc.int/
The University of Colorado Boulder has been a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UNSDSN) since 2019. The mission of UNSDSN is to promote integrated approaches to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, through education, research, policy analysis, and global cooperation. https://www.unsdsn.org/cities
CU Boulder and United Nations Human Rights announced plans for the inaugural Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit to be held on campus next fall over four days, bringing international leaders together in Boulder to address climate change as a human rights crisis.
The University of Colorado Athletic Department elevated its status as a national leader in sports sustainability becoming the first collegiate athletic department to announce it is joining the United Nations Race to Zero Campaign in 2019. Core to the commitment is CU Athletics' pledge to cut its greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and achieve Net Zero by 2040. This commitment was solidified with the signing of the UN Race to Zero in November 2021. CU Athletics' pledge follows the UN Sports For Climate Action Framework's announcement that it would call on all of its members to adopt the ambitious carbon reduction goals and enter the Race to Zero. See more about CU Boulder's Athletics Department commitments here: https://cubuffs.com/news/2019/5/13/general-cu-boulder-athletics-signs-u-n-agreement-boosting-sustainability.aspx https://cubuffs.com/news/2021/11/4/general-cu-athletics-joins-united-nations-race-to-zero-campaign.aspx https://racetozero.unfccc.int/
Optional Fields
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None
A brief description of political donations the institution made during the previous three years (if applicable):
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Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
https://www.colorado.edu/sustainability/ https://www.colorado.edu/outreach/ooe/office-focus-areas/environmental-sciences-and-sustainability-focus-area https://www.colorado.edu/cej/ https://cires.colorado.edu/outreach/ https://insidethegreenhouse.org/
CU Boulder named its first chief sustainability officer in 2017. https://www.colorado.edu/today/2017/04/20/heidi-vangenderen-named-cu-boulders-first-chief-sustainability-officer CU Boulder and CU Anschutz Medical Campus will jointly host the 2021 Science Writers Conference. https://www.nasw.org/events/sciencewriters2021
CU Boulder named its first chief sustainability officer in 2017. https://www.colorado.edu/today/2017/04/20/heidi-vangenderen-named-cu-boulders-first-chief-sustainability-officer CU Boulder and CU Anschutz Medical Campus will jointly host the 2021 Science Writers Conference. https://www.nasw.org/events/sciencewriters2021
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