Boulder has cut greenhouse gas emissions nearly in half since 2005. Here’s what’s driving the decline. – The Boulder Reporting Lab

Report on Boulder’s 2024 Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Climate Action Progress

1.0 Executive Summary: Local Action in a Global Context

Amidst a complex global and national climate landscape, the City of Boulder’s 2024 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory provides a critical assessment of local progress toward achieving international climate objectives, particularly the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report details the city’s emissions profile, analyzes reduction trends, and outlines the strategic imperatives required to meet ambitious climate targets. The findings underscore Boulder’s commitment to SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), while highlighting significant challenges, primarily related to the decarbonization of building energy.

2.0 Boulder’s Climate Commitment and Targets

The City of Boulder has established a multi-decade legacy of climate leadership, culminating in a formal framework aligned with global sustainability targets. This framework represents a direct local implementation of SDG 13 (Climate Action).

1. 2030 Target: Achieve a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2018 levels.
2. 2035 Target: Reach net-zero emissions by eliminating the majority of emissions and offsetting the remainder.
3. 2040 Target: Become carbon-positive, removing more climate pollution than the community produces.

These objectives are supported by long-term policy instruments, including the Climate Action Plan Tax, which was extended by voters through 2040 to fund initiatives that advance these goals.

3.0 Analysis of the 2024 Greenhouse Gas Inventory

The 2024 inventory indicates continued progress in emissions reduction, though the pace must accelerate to meet future targets. Total community emissions were 1,117,543 metric tons, representing a 29% decrease since 2018 and a 48% decrease from the 2005 baseline.

3.1 Primary Drivers of Emission Reductions

The majority of reductions are attributed to regional and statewide shifts rather than direct local control, with an estimated 81% of the decline since 2018 resulting from the decarbonization of the electricity grid.

• Cleaner Electricity Grid: The transition of the utility provider, Xcel Energy, toward renewable sources is the single largest contributor to Boulder’s emissions decline. This progress is central to achieving SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
• Sustainable Transportation: A 59% drop in on-road transportation emissions since 2018, driven by reduced vehicle miles traveled and increased electric vehicle (EV) adoption (12% of registered vehicles), directly supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
• Local Policy Impact: Municipal policies, including energy codes and electrification programs, have played a supporting role in these reductions.

3.2 Emissions Profile by Sector

Building energy consumption remains the dominant source of emissions, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the city’s climate footprint. This highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions in the built environment to advance SDG 7 and SDG 11.

• Building Energy Use (65%):
  • Electricity Use: 38%
  • Natural Gas Use: 28%
• Transportation (33%)
• Waste and Wastewater (1%)

While emissions from electricity have fallen 47% since 2018, emissions from natural gas use in buildings have only declined by 8%, identifying this as the most significant challenge to achieving Boulder’s climate goals.

4.0 Strategic Outlook and Alignment with SDGs

Achieving the city’s 2030 and 2035 targets necessitates an average annual emissions reduction of 10%—double the rate achieved since 2018. The city’s future strategy will concentrate on decarbonizing buildings and enhancing natural systems.

4.1 Decarbonization of the Built Environment

The primary strategic focus is the transition away from natural gas in buildings, a critical step for fulfilling commitments under SDG 7, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 13.

1. Building Electrification: Scaling up policies and incentives to facilitate the replacement of natural gas appliances with high-efficiency electric alternatives.
2. Strategic Decommissioning of Gas Infrastructure: Collaborating with utility partners to identify and retire segments of the natural gas system as electrification progresses.
3. Development of Thermal Networks: Exploring innovative, district-scale heating and cooling systems to reduce reliance on individual fossil fuel hookups.

4.2 Investment in Natural Climate Solutions

The city will continue to invest in nature-based solutions that contribute to carbon removal and ecosystem resilience, directly supporting SDG 15 (Life on Land).

• Soil health initiatives
• Expansion of the urban tree canopy
• Ecosystem restoration projects
• Exploration of credible carbon removal technologies through partnerships like the Four Corners Carbon Coalition.

In conclusion, while Boulder has made substantial progress, the 2024 GHG Inventory confirms that the most challenging phase of its climate action strategy is now underway. Success will depend on accelerating the transition from natural gas, scaling local programs, and fostering broad community participation to meet its ambitious and necessary Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article primarily addresses issues related to climate change, energy consumption, and urban sustainability. The following SDGs are directly connected to these themes:

   • SDG 13: Climate Action

     This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire text is dedicated to discussing Boulder’s climate action progress, its specific greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets, and the strategies being implemented to combat climate change at a local level. The article details Boulder’s goals to “Cut emissions 70% by 2030,” “Reach net-zero by 2035,” and “Become carbon-positive by 2040.”

   • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

     The article connects directly to this goal by discussing the sources of energy and the transition to cleaner alternatives. It highlights that the local utility, Xcel Energy, is shifting “toward renewables under statewide requirements,” which is a key driver of emission reductions. It also addresses the challenge of reducing reliance on fossil fuels, noting that “Xcel Energy, still sources more than half its electricity from natural gas and coal” and that “the biggest challenge ahead remains natural gas.”

   • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

     The article is a case study of a city’s efforts to become more sustainable. It focuses on reducing the environmental impact of Boulder by analyzing emissions from key urban sectors like “Building electricity use (38%),” “Building natural gas use (28%),” and “Transportation (33%).” Policies such as “banning natural gas in new construction” are direct actions toward creating a sustainable city infrastructure.

   • SDG 15: Life on Land

     This goal is addressed through the city’s strategy to use nature-based solutions for climate mitigation. The article mentions that the city will “continue investing in natural climate solutions ‘such as soil health, tree canopy expansion and ecosystem restoration,'” which directly relates to protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the article’s focus on local policy, energy transition, and emission sources, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

   • SDG 13 – Target 13.2

     Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article provides a local-level example of this target in action. Boulder has integrated climate measures into its city planning through a series of policies, including the “Climate Action Plan Tax in 2006, the Climate Commitment in 2016 and the 2019 Climate Emergency declaration,” as well as setting specific, staged emission reduction goals for 2030, 2035, and 2040.

   • SDG 7 – Target 7.2

     By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article directly supports this target by highlighting that a major reason for Boulder’s emission reductions is “A cleaner electricity grid, as Xcel shifts toward renewables.” It also notes that state law requires the utility to “cut power-sector emissions 80% by 2030,” which will further increase the share of clean energy.

   • SDG 11 – Target 11.6

     By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. The article is centered on this target by quantifying and analyzing Boulder’s community emissions. It breaks down the environmental impact by source—buildings, transportation, solid waste, and wastewater—and tracks the progress in reducing these emissions over time.

   • SDG 15 – Target 15.3

     By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. The article connects to this target through its mention of “natural climate solutions.” The city’s plan to invest in “soil health… and ecosystem restoration” is a direct action aimed at restoring and improving the health of local land and ecosystems as a climate mitigation strategy.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article provides several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

   • Indicator for Target 13.2

     Total greenhouse gas emissions per year (Indicator 13.2.2). The article is built around this indicator. It explicitly states Boulder’s 2024 emissions (“1,117,543 metric tons”), the percentage decrease from previous years (“an 8% drop from 2023, a 29% decrease since 2018”), and sets future goals based on this metric (“Cut emissions 70% by 2030 from 2018 levels”).

   • Indicator for Target 7.2

     Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption (Indicator 7.2.1). While not giving a direct percentage, the article implies this indicator by describing Xcel’s “cleaner energy mix” and its shift “toward renewables.” The statement that “Xcel Energy still sources more than half its electricity from natural gas and coal” serves as an inverse measure of the current renewable share, and the goal to cut power-sector emissions “80% by 2030” is a forward-looking target for this indicator.

   • Indicators for Target 11.6

     Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities out of total municipal waste generated, by cities (Indicator 11.6.1). The article provides a direct indicator for the environmental impact of the city by breaking down emissions by source: “Building electricity use (38%),” “Building natural gas use (28%),” “Transportation (33%),” and “Solid waste and wastewater treatment contribute just over 1%.” Additionally, the statistic that “Twelve percent of vehicles registered in Boulder are now electric” serves as a proxy indicator for progress on sustainable urban transport.

   • Indicator for Target 15.3

     Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area (Indicator 15.3.1). The article implies progress toward this indicator through qualitative measures. The city’s commitment to invest in “soil health, tree canopy expansion and ecosystem restoration” are actions that would be measured to show progress against land degradation and toward restoration.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 13: Climate Action	Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into policies, strategies and planning.	Total community greenhouse gas emissions (1,117,543 metric tons in 2024). Percentage reduction in emissions from baseline years (29% decrease since 2018). Specific emission reduction goals (70% cut by 2030, net-zero by 2035).
   SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy	Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.	Description of the energy mix (shift toward renewables, but still over 50% from natural gas and coal). State-mandated utility emission reduction targets (80% cut in power-sector emissions by 2030).
   SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities	Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities.	Percentage breakdown of emissions by source (Buildings: 66%, Transportation: 33%, Waste: ~1%). Percentage of electric vehicles registered in the city (12%). Policies implemented (e.g., ban on natural gas in new construction).
   SDG 15: Life on Land	Target 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil.	Investment in natural climate solutions (soil health, tree canopy expansion, ecosystem restoration).

Source: boulderreportinglab.org