Step 1. Sign a partnership agreement and meet with Climate Wise staff Step 2. Participate in a site assessment

1. Public-Private Partnerships and Climate Policy: What Impact Does the Private Sector Have on Climate Action Efforts? Claudette Ojo/ Hampton University/ Colorado State University/Center for Multi-Scale Modeling and Atmospheric Processes Step 1. Sign a partnership agreement and meet with Climate Wise staff Step 2. Participate in a site assessment Step 3. Implement at least one new energy conservation, water conservation, solid waste reduction, or transportation measure each year to Climate Wise staff. Step 4. Attend at least two Climate Wise partner meetings. Step 5. Report data for Climate Wise relevant information. Step 6. Receive an award at the annual recognition event, once a partner level is achieved. Step 7. Continue to be an active partner in the Climate Wise program. P3s +Climate Action= Social Progress Climate Wise: How Organizations join 2008 Sustainability Goals at local Fort Collins Organizations P3’s and Climate Policy Climate change is an issue that should concern everyone, but business/organizations should especially focus on the matter. Aggressive implementation of climate action as well as sustainable managerial techniques not only promote success, but they also create a trickle down effect. P3s help promote environmentally responsible practices, which get taken outside of the work place by both employers and employees, and implemented into their communities. Once the seed for positive, future- changing action is planted, it will grow, and continue to blossom, as some climate action techniques already have in the city of Fort Collins. Public-private partnerships, or P3s, are formal agreements between government entities and organizations/businesses that are created to achieve specific goals. Traditionally ,P3s have been used in public works projects in the areas of transportation, park management, private prisons, and energy sector development. Due to growing concerns about climate change, P3s have been applied towards tackling the private sector’s contribution towards many environmental issues. While the entire world does its part in contributing to CO2 emissions, cities undoubtedly consume more fossil fuels than other regions. Cities are responsible for about ¾ of the world’s energy consumption as well as 80% of the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. Since cities are essentially large business centers, businesses today are realizing their role in the climate issue. Many of these organizations are taking strides towards being a part of the solution, instead of the problem, by joining organizations dedicated towards impacting climate change in the private sector. Anheuser- Busch, Inc. Reduce carbon emissions by 50% in 2010 Avago Tech Reduce 2006 carbon emissions by 4% by 2010. Café Ardour Remain at a carbon neutral status. Clean Air Lawn Care Reduce GHG emissions. Compliance Partners/Seven Be carbon neutral in 2008. CSU Become carbon neutral in the near future. Drahota Construction Carbon Offsetting, composting, recycling. Fuhrman Landscaping Use Biodiesel in all equipment. GenGreen Reduce solid waste, plastic bag usage, and CO2. Land Images, Inc. 50% reduction of CO2 emissions from the 2007 by 2010. Neenan Company Reduce water and CO2 emissions 10% pr employee in 2008 New Belgium Brewery Co. Reduce emissions by 50% in 2010 Nolte Purchase renewable energy, institute recycling initiatives. Poudre School District 2-3% reduction of emissions per year for 10 years. Figure 3: Climate Wise partner projects rise. Figure 2: Break Down of CO2 Reductions Figure 1: United States carbon emissions by sector Sustainability Management as a Tool for Moving Ahead Climate Wise: Inspiring Change Most organizations committed toreducing their impact on the environment, like those that are a part of the Climate Wise program do so by developing sustainability management systems. Sustainability management systems are used to promote and maintain environmental responsibility by an organization evaluating the impact its decisions have on the environment, and opting to operate leaving as little impact on the natural environment as possible. Organizations with sustainability programs are not only environmentally responsible, but they also tend to be cost efficient, Making efforts not to leave an environmental footprint correlates with minimizing unnecessary usage of utilities and materials, which in turn, results in less costs. Figure 5: Climate Wise Partners making a difference. City governments can greatly influence the impact their communities have on the climate issue, The City of Fort Collins recognized this earlier than most, and with that, decided to develop a P3 called the Climate Wise program in 2000. This program was created to help Fort Collins reduce emissions by targeting the private sector. Climate Wise is a voluntary program for local Fort Collins businesses and organizations to join The goal of the Climate Wise program is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting waste reduction, energy savings, alternative transportation, water conservation, and pollution prevention. Even though the program is voluntary, it is highly structured, and partners must agree to follow up with its requirements in order to remain active members. Literature cited Bigner,Katy, “Climate Mitigation at the Local Level:A Study of the Effectiveness of Public- Private Partnerships”. 2007 Partner Resource Guide. Climate Wise Program.2006 Acknowledgments I would like to thank Kathy Collier,Amanda Sutton, the entire Climate Wise staff, Dr. Michele Betsill, Christine Aguilar, Melissa Burt and the entire CMMAP organization for their support. Figure 4: Climate Wise 2007 annual newsletter fact sheet