I know a lot of us are feeling overwhelmed, wondering what the next four years will look like on a global scale. In an effort to avoid the doomscroll and endless speculation game, I’m focusing on local news and concrete action I can take here and now. Something that’s helped tremendously is knowing that so many of our clients are continuing the slow and difficult work of fighting for climate, environmental justice, and conservation.
When it comes to protecting the natural world, from clean water and air to regenerative ag, these Colorado-based organizations will help you breathe a little easier. Here’s how they plan to protect Colorado’s wild places through the next administration and ways you can take small actionable steps right now:
1) Protect Our Winters (POW)
POW mobilizes the outdoor recreation community to combat climate change. Founded in 2007 by pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones, they focus on advocacy, education, and engaging policymakers in Washington to promote sustainable climate solutions. By leveraging the voices of athletes, businesses, and outdoor enthusiasts, Protect Our Winters works hard to champion the places and lifestyles currently threatened by global warming. Leading up to this year’s election, we helped POW roll out their Stoke the Vote campaign to engage users to check their voter registration status and learn about the issues that affect outdoor recreation.
So what’s their focus for the next 4 years?
“We’re still here. And we will keep showing up, unwavering and hell-bent on protecting these lands. Nature shapes who we are. We persevere for our planet, not just for ourselves, but for future generations” — Team POW
POW remains committed to:
* Protecting public lands from threats of fossil fuel extraction, including in Colorado
* Fighting at the highest level of government for real policy change (they helped in passing the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the most significant climate legislation in U.S. history)
* Amplifying the voices of those who are living with the reality of climate change every day—from Indigenous communities to scientists and activists
* Educating POW Alliance members and communities about the impacts of climate change
Take Action Today
➡️ Check out POW’s Climate Advocates Guidebook — an interactive resource that Vermilion helped design and build — to make climate advocacy easy to incorporate into your daily life.
2) Conservation Colorado
Conservation Colorado is all about protecting our state’s natural spaces, clean air, and water by pushing for bold solutions that prioritize people and the environment. Through a strong focus on environmental justice and equity, they fight for healthy, livable communities protected from pollution and environmental harms.
We’ve been working closely with their team to develop a strong brand foundation and support a very exciting new direction for the org (keep an eye out next week!).
This year, Conservation Colorado took stances on ballot measures to fund water conservation, make housing and transit more affordable, and protect Colorado communities.
So how did they help protect Colorado’s environment and local communities?
✅ Proposition JJ – Funnels tax revenue from sports gambling to go towards critically important water conservation projects, such as replacing inefficient water fixtures and investing in sustainable water management.
✅ Amendment 79 – Added the right to abortion to the state constitution, preventing the state or local governments from restricting access to abortion in the future. Additionally removed the current Colorado constitutional ban against public funding for abortions, allowing the state to cover abortion under Medicaid and add it to state employee health plans.
✅ Amendment J – Removed language from the state constitution that “Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.” While sam-sex marriage is legal federally, this amendment is a step toward repairing Colorado’s history against gay marriage.
✅ Ballot Issue 7A – Allows RTD to keep projected revenue above the TABOR cap instead of refunding that amount to Colorado taxpayers. The vast majority of operating revenue (75%) comes from the RTD sales and use tax that consumers and businesses pay in the metro area. By retaining these funds, RTD can continue to expand much needed public transit projects.
Read more on why Conservation Colorado supported or opposed each proposition and amendment, and how they affect communities across the state.
Take Action Today
➡️ Meaningful change often happens at the local level. Conservation Colorado’s Online Action Center provides quick and easy access to your local policymakers. Whether it’s signing a petition, reaching out to lawmakers, or supporting clean energy initiatives, your involvement helps push for tangible change.
3) Colorado Native Grass
Earlier this year, we teamed up with Colorado WaterWise and a working group of professionals from the landscaping, water, government, and non-profit industries to support climate-resilient landscape transformation in Colorado. The result was a new brand website for the Colorado Native Grass Guide that shares the benefits of native grasses, step-by-step guides, and resources for landscapers, homeowners, HOAs, and municipalities to pick the best species for their projects. The Colorado Native Grass Working Group is proof that a small and passionate group can help us adapt to climate change impacts, honor the natural environment, and use our limited water resources wisely with purposeful, climate-resilient grass choices.
Fun fact: while working as the Account Director on this project, I installed Cold Hardy Bermudagrass in my own backyard. Net takeaway? The water savings have been amazing, I only had to mow it twice all summer, and visitor feedback was a resounding “softest grass ever!”
Take Action Today
➡️ Colorado residents: Have you ever considered replacing your water-hungry lawn with something more sustainable and resilient? No time like the present! Well, maybe wait ‘til spring… In the meantime, learn more about the benefits of native grass and use this interactive tool to explore grass options that could work for you and your community.
If today’s not the day to take action, I get it. Many of us are tired and need a break to regroup and consider how we’ll continue to show up for the outdoors (and each other) during this next administration. But if you do one thing today, take some time to be outside. Get that early morning sunlight, take a leisurely walk around the block, and, as the kids say these days — touch grass. Your content-fried mind will thank you for it.
