Climate Initiatives

2025 Budget

$11,292,008

22.00 FTE

Department Overview:

Climate Initiatives drives local and regional climate action guided by Boulder’s climate targets, focusing on mitigation, adaptation and equity. The department achieves its mission through strategic investments in regulatory and voluntary programs, policy development and broad community engagement. Its work emphasizes transformational changes, partnerships and bold climate policies that foster systems-level changes while supporting individual actions.

In 2025, the Climate Initiatives department will realign budget to better reflect expected expenses, align budget with a new chart of accounts after the passing of the Climate Tax, and better align staff and their expenses with the programs on which they are working.

The Community Wildfire Resilience program will be adding a 2-year fixed term FTE to serve as a Wildfire Resilience Plan Implementation Coordinator ($120,000).

Department Programs:

Operating Budget (FY2023-2025)

Expenditure by Program

Program Overview

Administration

The Administration program handles budget development and tracking, payments, council scheduling, deconstruction documentation and contract management for the department. This program also provides administrative support to the Environmental Advisory Board.

Circular Economy

The Circular Economy (CE) program works with key partners, the Boulder community and city departments to accelerate the shift to a circular economy through a combination of policy development, education, pilot programs, incentives, infrastructure investments and technical assistance. Key focus areas include building deconstruction, consumer reuse systems, organic materials circularity and supporting recycling and end market development.

Community Wildfire Resilience

The Community Wildfire Resilience program is a cross-departmental effort focused on expanding planning, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts in response to the increasing wildfire risks exacerbated by climate change. Funded by individual departmental budgets and further bolstered by the new Climate Tax, this comprehensive effort underscores the city’s commitment to safeguarding the community through integrated and protective measures.

Cross-Cutting Climate Programs

Cross-Cutting Climate Programs build capacity and services focused on resilience and equity, engaging with climate justice and equity-based partners. This program area also oversees tracking and reporting on the impact of Climate Initiatives towards the city's climate goals.

Energy Systems

The Energy Systems program, in partnership with Boulder businesses, community members and key partners, uses education, incentives and regulatory measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve resilience through energy efficiency, local renewable energy development and building and transportation electrification.

Nature-based Climate Solutions

The Nature-Based Climate Solutions program (NbCS) collaborates with public and private landowners and managers to enhance urban forestry, reduce urban heat, manage wildfire risks and improve soil health, focusing on actions that capture carbon and water to protect and enhance community welfare, particularly in vulnerable areas.