Resilience

Ensuring our community can withstand sudden and gradual emergencies with systems to regenerate environmental and community well being

Micro Grids  |  Reforestation  |  Neighborhood Organizations  |  Local Food and Energy

RESILIENCE

The capacity of individuals, institutions, businesses, communities and systems within a city to survive, adapt and thrive no matter what type of chronic stresses or disruptive changes may be experienced

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE

Sustainability is the ongoing effort to create stable, prosperous social, economic and environmental conditions. Resilience is the capacity of these systems to undergo disruption and emerge better adapted to new conditions. The two dynamics are in constant interaction.

Colorado is exposed to many serious effects of climate change that make our communities vulnerable. A sector-by-sector analysis from the Colorado Energy Office lays out the challenges that state residents and leaders will have to deal with in the near future, as well as the many ways we already are, as a result of the climate emergency.

MANAGING IMPACTS IN COLORADO

Temperatures will likely increase by 2 to 6 degrees Fahrenheit by 2050. As temperatures increase, risk of heat exhaustion will likely rise, particularly for vulnerable communities. From an economic standpoint, businesses will have higher cooling costs, and rail speeds must drop to avoid track damage, leaving the freight and passenger rail industries vulnerable to slowdowns or the need for expensive track replacements.

TEMPERATURE

Rising temperatures, heat waves and droughts can reduce crop yield and slow cattle weight gain. Colorado farmers and ranchers are already accustomed to large natural swings in weather and climate but may find it especially challenging to deal with expected changes in water resources. This will in turn affect our food supply and economic advantages.

AGRICULTURE

RECREATION

Colorado’s springtime mountain snowpack will likely decline by 2050, with potential impacts on late-season skiing. Spring runoff season may also be earlier and shorter, which could affect rafting. These affect Colorado’s natural resource tourism economy

WATER

The state’s reservoirs can provide some buffering against some expected increases in water demand and decreases in flow, but entities with junior rights or little storage are especially vulnerable to future low flows, creating a disruption in service and an equity issue.

WHERE WE ARE

We must prepare together as a community to mitigate the impacts of these events.

BOULDER HAS ALREADY EXPERIENCED DISRUPTIVE CHANGES

Boulder has one of the highest fire risks of all communities in Colorado due to its close proximity to wildland forests.

Boulder is also one of the highest flood risk communities in the state due to its location at the confluence of multiple mountain drainages.

FIRE

HUMAN CAUSED THREATS

In addition to natural hazards, the community must also be prepared for a range of new hazards that are intentionally caused by humans including cyber security and other acts of terrorism.

FLOOD

DROUGHT AND EXTREME HEAT

The number of days over 95 degrees Fahrenheit in Boulder have already doubled since 2000. On current trajectories, they could increase more than 5 times by 2050—from an average of 4 to more than 25!

RESILIENCE NOW

MULTI-HAZARD DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Working in close collaboration with the County and Office of Emergency Management, the city is working to enhance the city’s organizational preparedness for a range of potential hazards. This process will have multiple opportunities for community input.

BETTER TOGETHER

The city and county are working together to develop and deliver a series of community workshop trainings designed to assist residents in building their personal, neighborhood and community resilience. The next session for Boulder residents starts in October!

CULTURAL BROKERS

Boulder County has initiated a community-based initiative to provide training and technical and financial support to members of the Latino community to assist local governments in finding ways to more effectively involve and engage members of the community that frequently do not feel comfortable taking an active role in public processes.

Local Organizations Addressing Resilience

To ensure Boulder County's operations and decision-making reflect…
turning the world into a garden by converting lawns and underutilized spaces into thriving food gardens to combat climate change and build more resilient communities
a small group of data analysts and policy wonks, organized into an employee owned consulting company working with data to understand and influence climate, energy, and electric utility policy in the public’s interest
providing foundational knowledge and a forum for productive discourse toward the planning and management of public lands in and around urban areas as integral components of sustainable and resilient communities in Colorado
created by and for Frontline communities to increase emergency preparedness
Community-Led, Nature-Based
Climate Action.
Designiung dryland agricultural systems grounded in the principles of ecology, so that the resulting landscapes sequester carbon, retain moisture, enhance biodiversity, and produce nutritious food for humans
Growing Gardens
non-profit with the Mission to cultivate community through sustainable urban agriculture and Vision of people experiencing a direct and deep connection with food, the land and each other
10-week cohort that helps people turn their neighborhoods into thriving communities
Producing top quality farm products while continuing to regenerate surrounding ecosystems
an education non-profit focused on developing more resilient communities through events based around human connection, and civic engagement
Collaborating with the Longmont community to cultivate a sustainable and thriving city
Environmental clubs from Centaurus, Peak to Peak, Monarch, Boulder, and Fairview High School aim to do their part in planting trees by partnering with Tree-Plenish.

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Learn More About Resilience

from these helpful resources, websites, and stories

Resilience Principles: Managing for an Uncertain Future

Below are three sets of principles for dealing with an uncertain world.
First, there has to be recognition that the world is complex and uncertain!

Key Resilience Concepts

The Resilience Alliance has good explanations of: Social-ecological Systems |  Transformation |  Resilience |  Panarchy |  Adaptive Management |  Adaptive Cycle |  Adaptive Capacity

A Practical Guide to Building Climate Resilience

This free resource from Climate Ready Communities is built on the Geos Institute’s Whole Community Resilience framework and walks through creating a community climate resilience plan.

ICLEI’s Climate Preparedness Programs

ICLEI has understood the risks facing communities but also the steps toward resilience, providing technical assistance to cities, towns, and counties in their efforts to adapt to climate change.

More Resilience News & Resources

2019 Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) works with thinkers, practitioners, experts and innovators to investigate the state of risk across the globe, highlighting what’s new, spotting emerging trends, revealing disturbing patterns, examining behaviour and presenting progress in reducing risk. The findings make up the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR), which is published every two years.. Download PDF

Microgrid Analysis and Case Studies Report

California Energy Commission review of California, US and global microgrids. Download PDF

Airport Microgrid in Northern California Looks to Create Replicable Model

Review of Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid. Read the Microgrid Knowldege Story

Will PG&E’s Blackouts Catalyze California’s Microgrid Market

Discussion of microgrid potential to protect against California wildfire threat. Read Green Tech Media story

Wildfire Risks Spark a Move to Microgrids in California

Discussion of microgrid potential to protect against California wildfire threat. Read GovTech story

Lessons Learned from California’s Pioneering Microgrid

Performance review of seven microgrids in California. Download PDF