Big oil companies have known for decades that their fossil fuel products could cause catastrophic consequences, but they lied to the public to protect their profits. Today, Coloradans are paying for the fallout of that deception.
Climate change today can look like:
- Extreme heat and drought
- Increased wildfire risk
- Poor air quality
- Declining snowpacks
- Rising insurance and energy bills
A 2026 study by the Colorado Fiscal Institute shows that preparing for and responding to climate damages will cost Coloradans over ~$50 billion by 2050.
This exorbitant cost underscores the importance of implementing adaptation strategies alongside ongoing mitigation efforts. For Western states like Colorado, adaptation looks like updating infrastructure to deal with abnormally dry conditions and increased wildfire risk, public lands and farmland conservation and increasing green spaces, and more efficient water and irrigation systems or water-wise landscaping.
Climate change has already cost Coloradans physically, emotionally, and economically, as disasters continue to make headlines in every corner of the state. It is time we invest in strategies to ensure we can be resilient.
Individuals shouldn’t have to foot the bill for responding to these climate impacts and cleaning up the mess Big Oil made either. To fight back, states like Vermont and New York have passed climate superfund laws which require the world’s biggest oil and gas companies to pay for the damage their product has caused.
Big Oil knows they are responsible. Right now, they are proactively fighting in Congress to get immunity from these laws and lawsuits that seek to hold them accountable. Just like we hold Big Tobacco accountable for health impacts of their product, so must Big Oil be held accountable for theirs. It is simple: if you make a mess, you must clean it up.
Together we can shift the cost of climate damages back from taxpayers and everyday people to the corporations who knowingly caused harm to turn a profit. With your support, Colorado can join the movement to make polluters pay.
Join us for an upcoming listening session to learn more about how we can build local resilience to climate disasters and send a message to your Representatives urging them to reject big oil immunity!
Find events near you or fill out our volunteer interest form to join us in this effort!