DENVER – The Colorado Chamber of Commerce today announced the creation and launch of its Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action Task Force, bringing together diverse industry groups to support a cleaner environment in Colorado.
The task force will allow for collaboration among businesses operating in Colorado to identify and promote efforts to improve the environment and mitigate emissions. It will convene employers, operators and policy experts interested in the intersection between environmental sustainability and public policy. The partnership will focus on both regulatory and legislative solutions that allow for technological innovation and environmental progress.
“Businesses across Colorado are highly invested in protecting and preserving our environment for future generations,” said Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman. “The Chamber has a long history of fostering constructive collaboration between employers, state leaders, regulators and the public, and we believe this task force will break new ground in the development of responsible, balanced environmental policy. We’re proud to lead this coordinated effort to tackle climate change and sustainability while preserving a healthy economy.”
Members of the task force include major industry associations and companies across Colorado representing transportation, energy, agriculture, manufacturing and more.
“We believe collaboration is an essential part of progress, and we look forward to working with the task force to ensure Colorado remains at the forefront of environmental sustainability,” said Rachel Schneider, vice president for sustainability and environmental, health and safety for Molson Coors. “This state has been our home for 150 years, and we’ve worked hand in hand with our fellow community members during that time to support water stewardship, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve glass and aluminum recycling. The modern aluminum can was even invented at our Golden facilities in the late 1950s. These priorities are part of our DNA, and we believe an integrated, data-driven approach is essential to driving sustainable measures in the near and long term.”
“EVRAZ Pueblo is proud to make the ‘greenest’ most-sustainable steel in North America at the only steel mill in the world powered by renewable energy,” said David Ferryman, senior vice president, Pueblo Business Unit for EVRAZ North America. “That’s why we are so pleased to work with other Colorado manufacturers under the leadership of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce to forge common-sense policies that preserve and grow family-sustaining jobs, and protect Colorado’s environment.”
The Colorado Chamber has commissioned the Keystone Policy Center to provide expert facilitation to the task force. Keystone has a strong reputation for bringing together stakeholders with diverse perspectives through strategic collaboration to address pressing issues with lasting solutions. The non-profit research organization will assist with task force design, goals and objectives, strategic framework, facilitation of task force meetings, and documentation of outcomes.
“Chevron supports policy that achieves Colorado’s climate action targets at the lowest cost to society. The business community must be engaged in that effort, and we are proud to work with our partners in the Colorado Chamber on solutions that will help Colorado meet its climate targets,” said Hodge Walker, vice president for Chevron Rockies Business Unit.
“Consulting engineering firms see firsthand the impact our changing climate has on critical infrastructure, from our transportation systems to the planning and design of new buildings and other structures,” said Executive Director of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Colorado Heidi Gordon. “As we look to build a resilient and sustainable future, collaboration across business and industry groups is essential to developing comprehensive policy solutions. ACEC Colorado is committed to providing our expertise and resources to the Chamber’s task force as we work together on innovative strategies to improve our environment.”
The task force will begin regular meetings this month and continue through the end of the year. Together with Keystone, it will develop a policy report with potential legislative recommendations and other collective actions that can be taken to reach environmental goals and objectives.
“We welcome the opportunity to participate in the Chamber’s task force and look forward to working with others to contribute to long-term solutions that help achieve Colorado’s environmental sustainability goals for future generations,” said Mizraim Cordero, director of mountain region state and local government affairs at United Airlines.
“At Tri-State we believe in meeting our mission to reliably, affordably and responsibly power our members,” said Barbara Walz, chief compliance officer and senior vice president of policy and compliance at Tri-State Generation. “For 70 years we’ve done that by being good stewards of our natural resources, partners in our communities, and through democratic member governance.”
Investors and participants in the Colorado Chamber’s Environmental and Sustainability Task Force include:
American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado
Black Hills Energy
Boulder Economic Council
Building Owners and Managers Association
Chevron
Climax Molybdenum
Colorado Farm Bureau
Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association
Davis, Graham & Stubbs LLP
Denver South
EVRAZ
GCC
Molson Coors
Natural Soda
Occidental Petroleum
Tri-State Generation
United Airlines
Waste Management
Xcel Energy
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The Colorado Chamber of Commerce champions free enterprise, a healthy business environment and economic prosperity for all Coloradans. It is the only business association that works to improve the business climate for all sizes of business from a statewide, multi-industry perspective. What the Colorado Chamber accomplishes is good for all businesses, and that’s good for the state’s economy. It was created in 1965 based on the merger with the Colorado Manufacturers’ Association.