Climate Action & Resiliency
Resiliency
A core tenet of both the Sustainability Plan and Envision Longmont.
What does it mean to be resilient?
- Building a community that can prepare for and react to future disasters or impactful events.
How does climate action relate to resiliency?
- Climate action encompasses mitigation and adaptation to the future impacts of climate change.
- Mitigation focuses on actions that reduce our impact on the environment.
- Adaptation focuses on actions to prepare Longmont for changing climate conditions.
In complement to the Sustainability Plan, a Climate Action Recommendations Report was developed to accelerate Longmont’s steps toward a resilient future, focusing on the areas listed below. The recommendations include new programs and projects, as well as the expansion of existing programs, and process-oriented strategies focused on embedding equity into climate action.
Equity Focus Across All Areas
A major flood event in September 2013 severely impacted Longmont, especially along the St. Vrain Creek. A flood event of this magnitude had not been experienced in Longmont since 1894, and it served as a reminder that the risk of major flood events is real and ever-present.
Resilient St. Vrain is a restoration and revitalization effort along the St. Vrain Creek to ensure that Longmont is prepared and can protect people, property and the environment for future extreme flood events.
Resiliency for All/Resiliencia Para Todos was a community engagement project to ensure that all residents are prepared for future flooding. Through the project, barriers to safety and resiliency were found. From this, a bridge was created between a vulnerable sector of the Latino population, community resources, and local governments in the City of Longmont and Boulder County.
On June 1st, 2017, Longmont Mayor Dennis Coombs joined the Climate Mayors group in releasing a statement to President Trump in response to the withdrawal of the US from the Paris Climate Agreement. To date more than 407 Mayors, representing 70 million Americans, have signed on expressing their commitment to adopt, honor, and uphold the Climate Agreement goals. Visit the Climate Mayors Website for more information.
In 2018, Longmont completed the City’s first greenhouse gas inventory to develop a baseline of greenhouse gas emissions. Based on the results from the inventory, Longmont prioritized a number of strategies to reduce citywide greenhouse gas emissions, such as the transition to renewable natural gas (RNG) sanitation trucks. These strategies also take into account impacts across our community, as well as affordability, implementation time, and advances in technology. Longmont is committed to ensuring that the transition to a clean energy economy will address issues of equity, access, and environmental justice.
The greenhouse gas inventory is updated every three years, read the most recent 2021 Greenhouse Gas Inventory memo. Or visit the Longmont Indicators greenhouse gas scenario tool to learn more about historic and projected emissions.
On October 8, 2019, the Longmont City Council passed a resolution declaring a climate emergency establishing Longmont’s intent to take immediate and accelerated action to address the climate crisis. This is a resident-initiated resolution that was passed by a unanimous vote of the Council. Read the Climate Emergency Resolution.
Longmont City Council convened a Climate Action Task Force composed of City staff, other subject matter experts, partners, concerned residents, including those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, to discuss further steps the City should take to promote a carbon-free, sustainable city. In December 2020, City Council approved the resulting Climate Action Recommendations Report (CARR).
