Creating tangible impact has never been easier. Here we highlight different programs/actions that focus on
1) Transforming our energy systems, 2) Restoring our ecosystems, 3) Regenerating our resources, and 4) Co-creating a just transition.

Apply to be an Inland Ocean Ambassador

The Inland Ocean Coalition, a non-profit building land-to-sea stewardship across the nation, offers a virtual 5-week training which covers the most pertinent ocean protection topics and features top minds in ocean conservation. The sessions, held each Thursday via Zoom from 5-7 pm MT, are designed as intensive learning opportunities to engage with IOC’s staff and network. This is a great opportunity to join a network of over 200 ocean ambassadors in 35 US states and 26 countries! More Info | Apply Online

Protect Air Quality During Our Respiratory Pandemic

COVID-19, results in respiratory illness, respiratory distress, and even death, at alarmingly high rates. People with reduced lung capacity, those immuno-suppressed and the elderly are at higher risk. Many are being made more vulnerable and may be lost to this deadly virus due to avoidable air pollution, almost half of which is coming from front range oil and gas extraction. Sign this petition!

High School Level Permaculture Design Course

Seeking to build your skills and earn a career-launching design certification? If you’re interested in working with nature’s rhythms, cultivating intelligent, abundant systems that are scalable and benefit your surroundings and community, then this high school Permaculture Design Course is for you! Info sessions are Jan. 21 and 24. Course will run March thru October. Learn more and register

Sign on in Support of Public Banking

Legislation is needed to enabling cities and counties in Colorado to create public banks and bank with credit unions. Laws currently mean our municipalities are stuck with corporate banks that finance environmentally and socially destructive projects, including private prisons, immigrant detention centers, oil and gas extraction, fossil fuel pipelines, and other investments that prioritize corporate profit over the people and the planet.
Sign here

Yellow Barn Farm Action Days

Running a farm isn’t easy. So why not share the task? If everyone does a tiny bit, we can make big waves. Throughout the year Yellow Barn Farm will be holding volunteer Action Days, focused on accomplishing big tasks quickly together like putting up a new chicken coop, building out the gardens, and constructing the greenhouse. The farm’s goal is to build local resilience by linking farms and community to create sustainable food, education, and economic systems. Learn how to get involved

Call for a New Compost Facility

Boulder County is building a new state-of-the-art compost facility on an old agricultural site and your voice is needed. There are significant actions communities can and must take NOW to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Turning organic discards into compost immediately reduces methane and helps reverse climate change. Boulder County is committed to composting, but emission-spewing trucks are now traveling 100 miles round-trip to the nearest compost facility. The new facility will cut those travel emissions to a fraction. Learn more and support now

Food Waste Eco-Leader Training

For harvest season, Ecocycle talked about food waste. Why is this a huge deal for the climate? Why is it a huge deal for people in need? How much of a problem really IS it in the United States? Furthermore, they will talk about how we can all be part of the solution, and help the planet as well as our communities. If you missed this webinar, you can watch it now. You can also sign up to be an Eco-Leader!

Pollinators License Plate Program

People and Pollinators Action Network needs 3,000 signatures to qualify for a new Colorado Pollinator License plate! A beautiful, new pollinator plate would support programs that protect pollinators and celebrate the indispensable role that they play in sustaining our agricultural and natural ecosystems. Want to help this awesome idea come to fruition? Please add your name to the petition and spread the word in your networks to help reach this goal! Sign here

Eco-Leaders 2.0 Training- Circular Economy

In September of 2020, Eco-Cycle held a webinar entitled Going Beyond the Bin. Hundreds of you tuned in, and they went over LOTS of information together! This excellent presentation goes beyond common zero waste principals. If you missed it and want to catch up, you can watch the recording here.

Check out one of BCRES’ upcoming webinars

Boulder Colorado Renewable Energy Society (BCRES) is dedicated to the advancement of all forms of renewable energy (RE), energy efficiency (EE), and their synergy with sustainability and economic development in all of Boulder County’s cities and towns, including Boulder, Longmont, Louisville, and Lafayette. Their goal is to raise awareness and provide educational activities to increase the adoption of existing and emerging EE/RE technologies, techniques, and policies. Every week or two they have great webinars. Learn more

Read how wildfires and covid-19 deepen inequities

Wildfires, ozone and heat waves in August produced the worst Front Range air quality in at least a decade. As a result, our community faces a clear example of how public health, equity and climate change intersect. Wildfire smoke and coronavirus deepen air quality inequities While poor air quality impacts everyone, its effects are not felt equally.
Learn more from the Newsroom of the City of Boulder

Listen to a Regenerative Rising Podcast

Regenerative Rising (previously known as At The Epicenter) is talking with cutting edge leaders and sharing conversations from the Regenerative Earth Summit™ series to elevate stories of regenerative business to activate change for healthy communities and our Earth. They have a great collection of past discussions online as podcasts. Upcoming events include: Women Leading Regeneration on The Land 10/1, Regenerative Earth Summit: Session 1 10/29-30th, Women leading Regeneration in the Wardrobe 11/18th, Regenerative Earth Summit: Session 2 12/1 -2

Launch Your Eco-Initiative in 90 Days!

Do you have an idea for a team or project that you’ve been wanting to start or expand? Now’s the time to make it a reality! Green Team Academy courses for individual initiatives and community-wide challenges are open to all ages worldwide providing coaching from the Green Team Academy and everything you need to launch a full-fledged initiative with momentum—start a community garden, racial justice initiative, zero energy home club, safe routes to school group, eco-club at your school, faith community, neighborhood, or work, and much more. Learn More!

Join the Regerative Recovery Coalition

Returning to “normal” following the pandemic is simply not an option. We are in need of a community of solutions to enable Colorado to build back better. We don’t have all the answers yet, but we invite you to work with us to find them on this journey towards establishing a future we collectively envision. The Regenerative Recovery Coalition will implement the ideas and strategies generated by the series, working with one another and everyone in Colorado who wants a recovery that is regenerative for our beloved state. More information

Understand indoor air pollution

As a global pandemic shines a new light on health, air pollution, and the disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations, it exposes the need to protect the public from risks both outside and inside the home. Indoors, air pollution is largely unregulated, despite risks associated with common household appliances. For instance, decades of scientific research have shown that gas stoves release toxic pollutants that can damage human health, but governments have done little to educate the public or accelerate the transition to all-electric cooking. Learn more at RMI

Act for racial justice now

Racial discrimination puts people’s lives and well-being at risk around the world. We cannot end poverty and build a thriving community without addressing racial inequalities. Global Citizen has put together a set of 7 activist-recommended actions to help stop police brutality and enact real change: 1- Choose to support racial justice every day, 2- Educate yourself, 3- Donate money, 4- Have difficult conversations, 5- Take political action, 6- Safely join a protest, 7- Get connected. Learn more

Try these plant-based recipes while you shelter at home

This is a great time to try new dishes and enjoy healthy, climate-friendly meals, many of which can be made with items you already own. The food we eat is pushing the planet to the breaking point. Animal agriculture one of the largest contributors to climate change. Eating a plant-based diet is one of the best things individuals can do to combat climate change. And it’s been linked to general well-being and lowered risk of chronic diseases. Try the easy recipes brought to you by Earth Day Network’s Foodprints for the Future team.

Get the New Eco-Cycle A-Z Recycling Guide App

How many times have you stood before a recycling bin, an item in hand, and wondered, “Can I recycle this?” Well now there’s an app for that! The Eco-Cycle A-Z Recycling Guide App is now available! Get yours at:
Apple App Store–https://apple.co/2GjOvyC
Google Play–http://bit.ly/2IrGQ4N
Visit the Eco-Cycle site more more details.

Is fracking knocking on your door?

SB19-181 is now law! This bill will change many fundamental aspects of oil and gas policy in Colorado and gives the state and local bodies of government more power to regulate drilling. Communities must be prepared to create new protective policies and address the many legal changes that will be set during the rulemaking process. Check out 350 Colorado’s new Community Toolkit.

Get up to date on Colorado bills

Our Colorado representatives and legislators are crafting many new laws impacting climate in the state. Kevin Cross from Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate has put together a great tally that explains the current bills, what they mean, and their status. Learn more.

Renewable Energy Summit – Recap & Key Learning

350 Colorado, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder’s Climate Action Ministry, and Physicians for Social Responsibility Colorado hosted a free, public Renewable Energy Summit. Attendees had the opportunity to learn how to move beyond fracked gas in their homes and how to support the transition to 100% renewable energy. Read the Recap, Watch the Video, View Presenter Slide Decks

Pledge to Tree-Imagine Boulder

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb

Together, we can Tree-Imagine Boulder! You can start by making the pledge to help Boulder’s trees by planting a tree (or trees) on your property, mapping the trees on your property, contributing to the PLAY Boulder Tree Trust, volunteering, watching the video, taking the survey, receiving email updates and tips for caring for your trees. Take the pledge

Learn More About Hosting a Micro-Farm

Check out Boundless Landscapes for a new program for anyone interested in hosting a micro-farm in 2020. This program turns the world into a garden by converting lawns and underutilized commercial and community spaces into thriving food gardens. With Boundless, you can turn your yard into a micro-farm, providing healthy organic food for your family and community, while helping to fight climate change. Visit Site

City of Boulder Declares Climate Emergency

The resolution commits the city to climate mobilization action that immediately prioritizes efforts to safely draw down carbon from the atmosphere and accelerate adaptation and resilience strategies in preparation for intensifying climate impacts. Learn more here.

Become a Yard Carbon Farmer

Building healthy soils may be our best hope to draw down and safely store atmospheric carbon dioxide. Eco-Cycle and the City of Boulder are working together on a 3-year study to explore a range of carbon farming approaches on urban landscapes to sequester carbon in the soil and help reverse climate change. Learn how to participate.

Attend a Compost Workshop

Turn your food and yard waste into valuable soil! Learn how to start and maintain a highly efficient backyard compost system including what to feed your compost pile, appropriate bins and methods for our geographic region, tips, troubleshooting, and much more. See Workshop Schedule

What Trees are in YOUR yard?

Boulder is set to lose 70,000 ash trees to Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in the next 10 years. That’s 25% of our urban canopy—a devastating loss. Find out what trees you have in your yard this month and take action.

Check out this beautiful Eco-Social ‘Zine

Climate action, reparations, fierce vulnerability, personal vocation and emergence are all topics covered in this super informative and beautiful ‘zine put out by The Possibility Network. Do yourself a favor…read & enjoy!

Listen to Elena Bennett Speak about Effective Ecological Practices

As humans increasingly dominate Earth’s natural systems over the coming centuries (“the Anthropocene”), how can we ensure that it becomes a “good Anthopocene”—a world in which nature and humanity prosper together? Ecosystem ecologist Elena Bennett believes that discovering the most effective paths to such a future is a bottom-up process, as countless projects all over the world are exploring how nature and humans can best collaborate. She has collected 500 such examples and assembled them into a hopeful narrative pointing toward an Anthropocene Epoch in which all life thrives.

Get Outside!

Cold is no excuse for missing out on one of the most precious times of year. Winter is a time for reflection—a time to gather energy to fuel projects, practices and campaigns through the rest of the year. From improved memory, concentration and creativity to reduced inflammation…there’s no reason we shouldn’t be going on a walk everydamnday.

Five Buddhist Practices to Tackle Climate Change:

Climate change is here and with the havoc it’s been wreaking, it’s hard to stay grounded. We came across this article and wanted to share (plus, these practices may also help us to navigate the holiday madness!). “Spiritual practices are not alternatives to swift, wise action. They are complementary disciplines to education and activism. Spiritual resources can help us move from desperation to sustainable activism.”

Civic Engagement and the Restoration of Community — A Handbook

Post-election there is still much work left to be done. So! We thought, what the heck, let’s share an oldie but a goodie: a “booklet written for citizens who care for the well being of their community.”

Say “Sayonara!” to meat!

Yeah, yeah, yeah—we’ve heard it before: eating less meat can significantly decrease our carbon footprint. Well, we’re saying it again because it’s true! Make this your year of Meatless Mondays (or…meatless everyday!). Here’s the why, and here’s the how.

Sign up for EVmatch, a fellow recipient of the Boulder Energy Challenge!

Through EVmatch, individuals rent out their private charging stations, earning money and supporting more EVs on the road. EV drivers leverage the sharing economy to easily find, reserve, and pay for charging with a few quick clicks on their app. Sign up and learn more here!

Transform your energy impact at home

Transitioning your household off fossil fuels can positively impact your health AND save you money. If you want to take climate action at a household level, these four actions—maximizing your energy efficiency, powering your life with renewable energy, electrifying your heating and cooling, and clean transportation—really add up and make a difference.

Offset your car emissions & invest in Colorado Farmers

Colorado Carbon Fund’s Carbon Neutral License Plates program supports in-state carbon reduction projects to mitigate the effects of climate change. With nearly 2,000 plates now on Colorado vehicles, they’re educating people and local businesses on climate change while investing back into our state. Take action here!

OFFER EXPIRED

Solar is more affordable with city solar grants or rebates!

Boulder residents and businesses that have installed solar electric or solar thermal (hot water) systems on their property may be eligible for a sales and use tax rebate. The city may rebate approximately 15 percent of the city sales and use tax paid on materials and permits for the solar installation. Learn More

New EnergySmart Rebates!

EnergySmart has new rebates available for energy efficiency upgrades on your home! Any resident in Boulder County is eligible for this free service and should call your EnergySmart Advisor at 303.544.1000 before making any upgrades or purchasing appliances. All rebates can be used alone or combined with financing to fully fund your upgrade including solar, renewable heating and cooling, insulation, and more.

Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act

The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (H.R. 763) will drive down America’s carbon pollution and bring climate change under control, while unleashing American technology innovation and ingenuity. This policy was also introduced in the Senate in 2018 as S. 3791. Learn more about the initiative.

Plant flowers that bloom all season long!

Pollinators need food from spring to fall, so plant as many flowers as you can of different colors, shapes and types to create a smorgasbord of nectar and pollen. These low water plants are perfect for pollinator gardens in our climate and this guide shows you which plants bloom during each season.

Discover your solar potential

Individuals’ dwelling decisions –where and how they live– hold the potential of driving sustainability. However, citizens often lack the necessary tools to inform their decision-making. Use this incredibly cool and easy online tool to discover what your home’s solar potential is. The future is here!

Take the “Make Less Trash” pledge!

When it comes to reducing our trash footprint, we can’t do everything, but we can all do something. Each one of us can dramatically reduce our individual trash and plastic footprint with a few mindful steps. Take the pledge with your neighbors, family and friends and make 2018 your cleanest, greenest year yet.

Plant a water-wise “Garden in a Box”

Garden in a Box offers a simple approach to water-wise gardening. These professionally designed garden kits contain 14-28 starter perennial plants, a comprehensive Plant and Care Guide, at least 1 plant by number map, educational resources about water conservation practices and the principles of Xeriscape, and other valuable information that helps you support water conservation with sustainable practices. Get yours here!

Check out POW’s Activist Roadmap

Now more than ever, it’s important that we all be climate activists – doing everything we possibly can that will force positive change. Protect Our Winters is mobilizing the outdoor sports community against climate change and they’ve put together very clear set of seven powerful ways to make a difference.

Transform your energy impact at home

Plant a water-wise “Garden in a Box”

Check out POW’s Activist Roadmap

See How The Community Is Engaging

Four Actions with Impact

What if we refuse trash?

Here’s How to Sort It Out

Singing Our Way to a Renewable Future

Ride with Boulder Food Rescue

Nosotros Somos Zero-Waste Boulder

Climate Action in Our Community

Get Inspired by Xiuhtezcatl Martinez