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AGENDA
INFORMATION UPDATE
February 22, 2022
5:00 PM,
I.INFORMATION UPDATE
I.A.Parks and Open Space Naming Policy
I.B.Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
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INFORMATION
MEMORANDUM
TO:Mayor and City Council
FROM:Matt Kuhn, Parks and Open Space Director
THROUGH:Austin Weiss, Parks and Recreation Director
Diane Foster, Assistant City Manager
MEMO DATE:February 15, 2022
MEETING DATE:February 22, 2022
RE:Parks and Open Space Naming Policy
REQUEST OF COUNCIL:This memo provides a summary of a proposed Parks and
Open Space Naming Policy. Should City Council wish to discuss this item in a work
session prior to staff providing a resolution for City Council consent, City Council should
notify the City Manager.
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND: The Parks and Open Space Department seeks City
Council direction regarding the proposed Parks and Open Space Naming Policy.
Currently, a formal and adopted naming policy does not exist for these City of Aspen
properties.
The Parks and Open Space staff developed the proposed naming policy in 2009. At that
time, the proposed policy was discussed at a work session with the former City Council.
We have reviewed the recording from that meeting, and the Council at the time was
supportive of the proposed policy. Subsequently, we have found that staff in 2009
prepared a resolution for Council consent, however it does not appear that the policy was
formally adopted through resolution.
The following Parks and Open Space Naming policy is exactly as proposed in 2009. This
framework provides a linear series of criteria that should be used to vet new park and
open space names. It provides clear guidance for preference to names after geographic
or common names, and provides some guidance for requests to name parks or open
spaces after a person. Ultimately, the proposed policy defers to City Council to approve
naming or re-naming parks.
Recently, a citizen has petitioned staff and the Open Space and Trails Board to rename
Tot Lot park after an individual currently living in the neighborhood adjacent to the park.
It was this question that has brought discussion and research around the proposed policy.
The citizen request has, to date, not been brought to City Council. It should be noted that
it is not staff’s intention to thwart that request by adopting this policy. Rather, we hope to
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provide Council and staff with a better understanding of process for future petitions and
consideration.
Proposed naming policy:
City of Aspen Parks and Open Space Department Naming Policy
When naming or renaming various properties managed by the City of Aspen Parks
and Open Space Department, the naming priorities will be as ranked and stated
below:
1. Geographic or common usage identification
2. Place or event of historical or cultural significance
3. Natural or geological features
4. A deceased individual/family that has made a significant land contribution
to the City of Aspen, when naming has been stipulated as a condition of the
donation.
5. A person who has played a large part in protecting a particular parcel of
land for public benefit or who has made a significant contribution to the
community and has been deceased at least five (5) years.
Name changes to parks, trails, and open space are generally discouraged, unless
the present name causes confusion due to locations of properties with similar
names. Renaming creates expense and confusion given the necessity for
changing and updating signs, maps, brochures, website information, contact
information, police and fire department personnel, and any other venue of
information dissemination.
Any citizen or City staff member may submit to the City of Aspen Parks and Open
Space Department a written recommendation for the naming or renaming of a
property. The City of Aspen Parks and Open Space Department will then assess
the appropriateness of the recommendation based upon the above ranking policy
and will present the request and recommendations to the City of Aspen City
Council for its review and potential approval.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS: There are relatively few direct financial impacts for adopting a
naming policy. Indirect impacts include costs associated with changing names where
signs, maps, brochures, websites, and other resources need to be revised upon name
changes.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS: None.
ALTERNATIVES:City Council could direct staff to change the proposed policy, or to
amend or delete certain conditions.
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RECOMMENDATIONS:Staff recommends bringing the proposed Parks and Open
Space Naming Policy to City Council as a Resolution in a forthcoming regular meeting.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS:
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INFORMATION ONLY MEMORANDUM
TO:Mayor and City Council
FROM:Tim Karfs, Sustainability Programs Administrator
THROUGH:Ashley Perl, Climate Action Manager
MEMO DATE:February 18, 2022
MEETING DATE:February 22, 2022
RE:Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
PURPOSE: The purpose of this memo is to provide City Council with the findings from
the 2020 Community Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory. This data provides
the foundation for City Council’s carbon reduction goal and will inform Aspen’s continued
progress in all areas of environmental sustainability including energy use, waste
reduction, transportation, and renewable energy.
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
The key takeaway from the data is that although Aspen has achieved some documented
reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, significant work is still required if Aspen wishes
to contribute positively in the fight to lessen the impacts from a changing climate. Business
as usual calculations show that Aspen will not meet its targets unless it decisively ramps
up its decarbonization efforts.
Greenhouse Gas Inventory Basics: GHG inventories are used by municipalities,
organizations, private businesses, and countries across the world to track and measure
the emissions associated with particular actions or entire communities. They are used to
inform climate action planning efforts and to provide an estimate of a community’s carbon
footprint for a given time. Aspen adheres to the Global Protocol for Community-Scale
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories (GPC) which is a globally accepted process for
cities to measure and track GHG emissions.
Some might imagine that GHG emissions can be measured using a real time air
measurement tool, but in reality, GHG emissions are calculated by taking data from
utilities and other sources and calculating how much energy was used over the course of
a year and then applying emissions factors to each type of energy. This calculation yields
total greenhouse gas emissions per sector per year. Sectors of GHG emissions can vary
and in Aspen the sectors are historically divided into commercial buildings, residential
buildings, on-road transportation, airport operations, and waste processing.
Aspen’s History: Aspen conducted its first GHG inventory in 2005 with data from 2004,
and continued to produce inventories for the years 2007, 2014, 2017, and now 2020.
Using the 2004 inventory as a baseline, Aspen set ambitious GHG reduction goals in
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2007 that aimed to reduce emissions 30% by the year 2020 and 80% by the year 2050.
The 2017 inventory showed that the Aspen community had reduced emissions 21%
compared to the 2004 baseline.
DISCUSSION:
Changes to Methodology: The most recent inventory used updated assumptions and as
a result has a more robust methodology than previous inventories. Specific changes to
the methodology are noted below.
Two Years of Data. In past years, staff collected data from a singular year. However,
this time around, data was collected from both 2019 and 2020 to understand the
impacts of COVID-19 and broader trends before and during the pandemic.
Smaller Geographic Area. All of Aspen’s past inventories collected data from a
geographic region that was similar to the Urban Growth Boundary and included parts
of Red Mountain as well as some on-mountain activities. However, in 2020 other
governments in the region, including Pitkin County, Basalt and Snowmass joined in
partnership with the City of Aspen to conduct a region-wide inventory. According to
global reporting protocols, Aspen’s GHG boundary became about 20% smaller (more
reflective of the City’s municipal boundaries) so as to not double count areas where
other governments were claiming responsibility for the emissions. While this aligns
with best practices and will benefit decision makers moving forward, it also has the
effect of making previous years’ inventories not comparable to the 2020 inventory.
However, the 2017 inventory was adjusted, or backcasted, to allow for comparability
between 2017 and 2020.
Changes to City of Aspen GHG Reduction Goals: In 2021, City Council set three priority
goals for a two-year period and one of these goals is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
to the amount that is scientifically necessary to prevent the most catastrophic effects of
climate change. One of the first actions City Council took to make progress on this goal
was to adopt science-based GHG reduction targets, which replaced the former 30% by
2020 and 80% by 2050 goals with new goals to reduce emissions 63% by 2030 and 100%
by 2050.
These goals accurately represent the speed and scale of carbon reduction that Aspen
must achieve to responsibly do its part in preventing catastrophic global warming. It
should be noted that Aspen’s new science-based targets use a baseline year of 2017
instead of 2004, as in the past. This is a best practice that puts Aspen in alignment with
other global cities in their path to reach zero carbon. The downside to using this approach
is that Aspen’s progress is no longer measured against a 2004 baseline and is instead
measured against a more ambitious but universal 2017 baseline.
The progress that has been made in carbon reduction between 2004 and 2017 is
significant, documented and has positioned the community well to reach future goals.
Aspen has been a leader in carbon reduction for over twenty years and staff is confident
in the community’s ability to rise to the challenge of dramatically reducing carbon even
further.
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Progress Over Time:By comparing the back-casted 2017 inventory with the comparable
geographic boundary used in 2020, this data shows that Aspen achieved a 23%reduction
in community wide emissions from 2017 to 2020.Many of these reductions are attributed
to closures and reduced activity associated with COVID-19. Despite this, these reductions
remain significant and show that the Aspen community has the technical ability to
dramatically reduce emissions.
Figure 1: Aspen’s forecasted emissions and reduction goals.
Figure 2: Aspen’s 2020 emissions by sector.
Commercial
and
Industrial
Buildings
27%
Residential
Buildings
30%
Fugitive
Emissions
1%
Transportation
(On Road &
Airport) 26%
Solid Waste
16%
Wastewater
Treatment
0.03%
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
2017 2019 2020 Forecasted
2030
Forecasted
2050Emissions (mt CO2e)Stationary Energy Transportation Waste Other
2050 Goal:
Net-Zero
Emissions
2030 Goal:
63%
reduction
from 2017
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Key Findings: The following trends demonstrate that Aspen is both securing incremental
wins and will need to do more to reduce emissions:
Commercial and residential buildings: Emissions from the building sector
contribute to the largest portion (57%) of Aspen’s total emissions. These emissions
primarily come from the use of natural gas and electricity consumption in those
buildings, which is in line with national trends. At the same time, the building sector
achieved the most significant reductions out of all sectors which is a direct result of
cleaner electricity being procured by local utilities. Aspen Electric has provided
customers with 100% renewable energy since 2015 and Holy Cross Energy’s
commitment to 100% carbon free electricity by 2030 ("100x30") has resulted in a rapid
adoption of renewables.
Waste: Emissions from the disposal and processing of waste are the third largest
source of community emissions comprising 16% of the total share, with construction
and demolition waste representing the vast majority. On average, 17.3 pounds of
waste is produced per capita each day in Aspen. This is nearly four times the US
average. It is notoriously difficult to attribute waste that enters a landfill to a specific
community and as a result the waste generated by Aspen’s visitors is assigned to
residents.
Transportation: Emissions from Aspen’s airport represent 15% of the total
community emissions. The airport has been included for consistency with previous
inventories. However, it should be noted that local officials have limited authority to
reduce emissions at the airport from a policy perspective. Transportation related
emissions have decreased since 2017, now representing 11% of the total. This
reduction is primarily due to a change in methodology which now uses more accurate
data to measure vehicle movement.
COVID-19 impacts: Aspen’s total emissions were impacted by the COVID-19
pandemic by approximately 9%. This is noteworthy as many other global cities have
reported more significant reductions in their emissions due to COVID-19 disruptions.
This shows that Aspen’s overall 23% reductions since 2017 is partly due to climate
action programing and the addition of renewable energy to the regional grid and partly
due to covid closures.
Conclusion and Next Steps: The 2020 community GHG inventory and accompanying
memo represents the completion of a key milestone for City Council’s carbon reduction
goal and provides staff the necessary baseline data for completing a technical update to
the Climate Action Plan. The Climate Action Plan was first created in 2007 and went
through an in-depth update in 2017. Much of the content remains relevant today and the
forthcoming technical update will adjust the priority actions to align with a pathway to
achieve Aspen’s science-based targets.
Additionally, this memo, accompanying GHG inventory report, and refinement to the
emissions inventory methodology and boundary are valuable to City Council to inform this
year’s priority climate actions. Equipped with the key findings from the 2020 GHG
inventory report, City Council and staff have a useful reference point to act and achieve
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deeper GHG reductions. Bold action is necessary to get Aspen over the line to do its part
to reduce emissions by 63% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS: There is no direct environmental benefit from conducting
a GHG inventory. However, this inventory will serve as the basis for Aspen’s climate
planning efforts moving forward and acts as a valuable tool for reducing GHG emissions
across the community.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A – 2020 Aspen Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
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City of Aspen
2020 Greenhouse Gas
Emissions Report
January 2022
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary ES1
Summary of 2020 Inventory Results ES1
Progress Towards Emissions Goals ES4
Introduction 1
About the GHG Inventory 2
Aspen’s Emissions Inventory Boundary 3
COVID-19 Impact on Emissions 3
Aspen’s GHG Emissions Inventory Trends 4
Overall Emissions Trends 4
Emissions Overview for 2020 and 2019 5
Aspen’s GHG Emissions Details 9
Building Sector Emissions 9
Transportation Sector Emissions 11
Waste Sector Emissions 13
Contributors to Aspen’s Emissions Trends 14
Forecasted Emissions and Progress Towards Aspen’s Goals 15
Conclusion 16
Appendix A: Table of All Emissions by Source and Sector 18
Appendix B: Inventory Methodology 19
Inventory Methodology 19
Calculating Emissions 20
Emissions Inventory Boundary 20
Emissions Scope, Sectors, and Sources 21
Works Cited 21
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ES1 | Page
Executive Summary
Protecting the environment is a
salient value within the City of Aspen
(Aspen) community. The city is
committed to fighting climate
change and preserving the natural
beauty that characterizes the region.
Since 2004, Aspen has tracked their
(greenhouse gas) GHG emissions
and implemented rigorous emission
mitigation policies, establishing itself
as a leading city in the fight against
climate change.
In line with ICLEI’s Race to Zero Pledge1, Aspen recently
revised its climate goals to strive for a 63% reduction in
emissions by 2030 and a 100% reduction in emissions (i.e.,
achieving zero carbon) by 2050 (over a 2017 baseline).
Aspen and surrounding communities conducted 2019 and
2020 GHG emissions inventories to understand current
emissions sources and to inform future climate action
planning. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was not a
representative year of typical GHG emissions. Therefore,
both a 2019 and 2020 inventory were conducted to
understand the impact of COVID-19 and broader trends.
SUMMARY OF 2020 INVENTORY RESULTS
• Aspen's emission total in 2020 was 179,086 metric tons of carbon dioxide
equivalents (mtCO2e). Since 2017, Aspen has reduced emissions by 23%.
• In line with national trends, the buildings sector produced the greatest amount
of Aspen’s GHG emissions, comprising 57% of the total. Between 2017 and 2020,
1 See https://icleiusa.org/race-to-zero/.
Aspen’s
Emissions
Reduction Goals
63% reduction of
GHG emissions by
2030 over 2017
baseline.
100% reduction of
GHG emissions (net-
zero) by 2050 over
2017 baseline.
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ES2 | Page
residential emissions decreased 30% and commercial emissions decreased
18%. Natural gas generated the most emissions at 32% of the community’s total,
followed by electricity at 26%.
• Since 2017, residential and commercial energy emissions have decreased
significantly. This can largely be credited with the adoption of renewable energy
policies and programs by the city’s electric utility providers: Aspen Electric has
transitioned to 100% renewable energy and Holy Cross has been actively
greening its fuel mix over the past several years.
• Transportation emissions were the second greatest contributor to the total,
where 15% of Aspen’s total emissions come from the aviation sector and on-
road transportation makes up 11% of Aspen’s total emissions. On-road
emissions are more easily influenced by local policy and programs than
aviation. While emissions from the aviation sector have increased since 2017,
on-road transportation emissions have decreased significantly.
Commercial
and Industrial
Buildings
27%
Residential
Buildings
30%
Fugitive
Emissions
1%
Transportation
26%
Solid Waste
16%
Wastewater Treatment
0.03%
Figure ES 1: Aspen's 2020 emissions by sector.
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ES3 | Page
• Aspen residents generated almost
26 tons of emissions per capita in
2020; while this is higher than the
national average of approximately
20 tons per person,2 the influx of
population that Aspen experiences
during the summer and winter
tourism months is not reflected in the
per capita total.
• Aspen’s emissions decrease by 9%
between 2019 and 2020. Much of the
decrease in emissions during this
time can be attributed to pandemic
factors; specifically, the steep drop in
transportation and commercial
energy emissions.
• While Aspen is making good progress
towards its goals by achieving a 23%
reduction in emissions between 2017
and 2020, the emissions forecasts
indicates that the community is
unlikely to meet its emissions
reduction targets without further
action.
2 See https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-04/documents/us-ghg-inventory-2021-chapter-
executive-summary.pdf?VersionId=zIDuKzdiajVlVgYiiK_CGXhk36JU02zr.
Key Findings for 2020
In 2020, the City of Aspen reduced
overall emissions by 23% from the 2017
baseline.
The buildings sector contributed the
largest share of emissions at 57%.
Residential buildings generated slightly
more emissions than commercial
buildings, and natural gas generated
more emissions than electricity use.
Transportation activities, including those
at the Aspen-Pitkin County Regional
Airport, comprised 26% of emissions.
Waste emissions made up 16% of
Aspen’s 2020 inventory.
There was a 9% decrease in emissions
from 2019 to 2020. This decrease in
emissions can largely be attributed to
the pandemic.
While Aspen is making good progress
towards its goals, the community
needs to take aggressive action to
meet its emissions reduction targets.
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ES4 | Page
PROGRESS TOWARDS EMISSIONS GOALS
Emissions have decreased 23% since the 2017 inventory (assumptions used were
consistent from 2017 to 2020 inventories). This significant decrease is due in large part
to the reduced carbon intensity of purchased electricity in Aspen as well as Aspen’s
effective climate mitigation programs. The COVID-19 pandemic also played a role in
reducing emissions, particularly in the transportation and commercial energy sectors.
Aspen is making progress towards its goal of a 63% reduction in emissions by 2030,
but based on a business-as-usual forecast, a concentrated effort will be needed to
reach both the 2030 goal and the ambitious goal of reducing all emissions (net-zero)
by 2050. Increasing the rate of implementation and intensity of emissions reductions
strategies and policies, particularly those outlined in Aspen’s CAP, will be necessary for
Aspen to achieve its goals.
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
2017 2019 2020 Forecasted
2030
Forecasted
2050Emissions (mt CO2e)Stationary Energy Transportation Waste Other
2050 Goal:
Net-Zero
Emissions
2030 Goal:
63% reduction
from 2017
Figure ES 2: Aspen's business-as-usual forecasted emissions and reduction goals.
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Introduction
The 2020 Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC) report
issued a “code red for humanity,”
warning that human activities are
changing the climate at an
unprecedented rate. The report
states that, “unless rapid and deep
reductions in CO2 and other
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
occur,” global warming will exceed
1.5 degrees Celsius in the coming
decades.i
The climate crisis could have long-term impacts on the local economy, environment,
and human health in Aspen. The region could see temperature increases between 2.5 -
6.5 degrees Fahrenheit; hotter and drier summers; and greater amounts of winter
precipitation falling in the form of rain rather than snow.ii Observed changes in regional
conditions, such as the fact that Aspen is experiencing 31 more frost-free days per year
than it was between 1980-1989, provide evidence that climate change is already
manifesting itself locally.iii As is the case globally, the degree to which Aspen will be
affected by climate change over the medium and long term is directly tied to current
and future emissions trajectories.
While tackling climate change requires global -scale emissions reductions,
communities like Aspen have the power to lead in emissions reductions and inspire
action by example. Through the implementation of ambitious local climate policies
and dramatic GHG emission reductions, Aspen has the power to inspire regional,
national, and international planning efforts.
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About the GHG Inventory
The Community Office for Resource Efficiency
(CORE), the City of Aspen (Aspen), and Pitkin
County contracted Lotus Engineering and
Sustainability, LLC (Lotus) to create 2019 and
2020 greenhouse (GHG) emissions
inventories for Aspen and surrounding
communities. The purpose of these
inventories is to understand current GHG
emission sources and guide future climate
action planning. The inventories include all
BASIC sources and sectors per the Global
Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse
Gas Emission Inventories (GPC protocol)
methodology,3 plus additional sources of
emissions from aviation activities at the
Aspen-Pitkin County Regional Airport. More
information about the methodology of the
inventory can be found in Appendix B.
GHG emissions are a product of emission
factors and activity data and are reported in
metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (mt
CO2e). Emission factors represent the carbon
intensity of the fuel or materials used in a
specific activity, while activity data refers to
the data measured related to community
activities, such as fuel consumed, electricity
consumed, tons of waste generated, and
vehicle miles traveled
3For more information regarding GPC see: http://c40-production-
images.s3.amazonaws.com/other_uploads/images/143_GHGP_GPC_1.0.original.pdf?1426866613 .
GHG Emissions:
Scope 1, 2, and 3
Scope 1: GHG emissions from
sources located within the
community’s boundary, including:
• Energy and transportation
fuel combustion.
• Fugitive emissions (i.e.,
leakage of natural gas).
• Wastewater treated within
the boundary.
Scope 2: Emissions occurring outside
of the boundary because of the use
of grid-supplied electricity, heat,
steam, and/or cooling within the
boundary.
Scope 3: GHG emissions that occur
outside the boundary because of
activities taking place within the
boundary:
• Solid waste (including
compost) treated outside the
boundary.
• Transportation activities for
which fuel combustion occurs
outside the boundary.
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ASPEN’S EMISSIONS INVENTORY BOUNDARY
Aspen's GHG inventories prior to 2019 used an emissions inventory boundary (EIB) that
included the City of Aspen and parts of unincorporated Pitkin County around the city,
including ski areas, residential neighborhoods, and the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport.
This boundary was used previously because it was assumed to capture emissions
from the geographic area that represents the total of Aspen’s core functionality and
economy. Aviation activities are attributed to Aspen due to the prevalence of tourism-
driven activities in the community
The 2019 and 2020 inventories
use Aspen's legal boundaries
to fully align with the GPC
protocol and the methods
used for other surrounding
communities—in this way,
using the City boundary
avoids double-counting with
inventories created for
unincorporated Pitkin County.
Due to the smaller geographic
boundary in the 2019 and 2020
inventories compared to prior
years, emissions from previous Aspen inventories were originally calculated to be
significantly higher. The 2017 Aspen inventory has been adjusted to reflect the new
geographic boundary so accurate comparisons can be made between the 2017
baseline year and subsequent inventories.
COVID-19 IMPACT ON EMISSIONS
The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented changes to communities across the
world. Thus, 2020 was not a year that represents typical emissions behaviors. National
GHG emissions declined 10% from 2019-2020, marking a record-breaking decrease in
the United States. The national drop in emissions is largely attributed to the pandemic.
To understand typical emissions behavior as well as the impact of COVID-19, Aspen
and surrounding communities conducted an inventory for both 2019 and 2020.
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4 | Page
Analyzing the changes from 2019 to 2020 provides insight into how the pandemic may
have influenced emissions behavior.
In the City of Aspen, emissions decreased 9% from 2019 -2020, closely mirroring the
national trend. Commercial activity and transportation were the greatest sectors
impacted by COVID-19 policy. There were notable reductions in each of these sectors.
Commercial and industrial building energy decreased 14% from 2019-2020. The
transportation sector saw an 8% decline in vehicle miles and a related reduction in
on-road transportation emissions (decrease of 9%). Aviation emissions also
decreased 8% between 2019-2020. The reduction in commercial and transportation
emissions from 2019-2020 can largely be attributed to the pandemic, rather than
drastic policy changes or program success.
Aspen’s GHG Emissions Inventory Trends
OVERALL EMISSIONS TRENDS
In general, GHG emissions are driven by activity occurring within the community , and
significant changes to community size, economy, and character will impact how
emissions change over time. From 2017 to 2020, Aspen’s population grew by nearly 2%,
with an 8% increase occurring from 2017 to 2019, and then a 6% drop from 2019 to 2020.
It should be noted, however, that population data does not account for the influx of
visitors to the community in the summer and winter tourism months. In addition,
census data was harder to collect in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Population
values, particularly those from 2020, may not be an accurate representation of the
actual number of people living in Aspen over the year.
Table 1: Aspen population and housing trends.
Population and Housing Data
Indicator 2017 2019 2020 2017 to 2020
difference
Population 6,879 7,431 7,004 1.8%
Number of
housing units 5,907 6,483 6,213 5.2%
*2017 values reflect activity only within the City of Aspen boundaries, not the original totals for the EIB.
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Aspen's emission total in 2020 was 179,086 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents
(mtCO2e). Since 2017, the Aspen community has reduced total CO2e emissions by 23%.
This decrease in emissions in 2020 is a significant accomplishment considering the
growth in population and housing over the same time frame. The greatest reduction
in emissions between 2017 and 2020 came from the transportation sector, in which
emissions decreased by 32%. Stationary energy emissions decreased by 24% from
2017 to 2020.
EMISSIONS OVERVIEW FOR 2020 AND 2019
In accordance with the GPC protocol,
emissions are classified by sector (residential
and commercial energy, on-road
transportation, and waste). These sectors are
further categorized by the source of emissions
(electricity, natural gas, mobile gasoline,
diesel etc.).
In 2020, the residential building sector
accounted for 30% of total emissions, while
energy from commercial and industrial buildings made up 27% of total emissions.
Altogether, emissions from building energy use contributed to over half of all
emissions. The transportation sector was also a significant emitter, making up 26 % of
total emissions. This is followed by solid waste which contributed 16% to the total.
Table 2: Aspen's 2019 and 2020 emissions by sector and percent change.
Sector 2019 Emissions 2020 Emissions 2019 to 2020 Change
Commercial
and Industrial
Buildings
56,167 48,484 -14%
Residential
Buildings 57,295 53,700 -6%
Fugitive
Emissions 2,293 1,920 -16%
Transportation 51,179 47,044 -8%
Solid Waste 29,171 27,878 -4%
Wastewater 65 60 -8%
Total 196,169 179,086 -9%
In 2020, the building and the
transportation sectors were the
greatest emitters. Residential and
commercial buildings contributed to
over half of total emissions (57%), and
transportation contributed about 26%
of total emissions. By source, natural
gas makes up the greatest
percentage of total emissions (32%)
followed by building electricity (26%).
The relative contribution of each
source and sector remained relatively
stable from 2019-2020.
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The breakdown of emissions by sector in Aspen’s 2019 inventory was nearly identical
to the 2020 results, see Figure 1 and Figure 2. Total emissions in 2019 were 196,169
mtCO2e; between 2019 and 2020 emissions decreased by 9%.
Table 3: Aspen's 2019 and 2020 Emissions by Sector and Source
Sector Source 2019
Emissions
2020
Emissions
2019 to 2020
Change
Energy Electricity 47,053 46,309 -2%
Natural Gas (including
fugitive emissions)
68,134 57,067 -16%
Propane 567 728 28%
Transportation On-Road Gas and Diesel
Vehicles
21,814 19,855 -9%
On-Road EVs and EV
Buses
131 129 -9%
Aviation 29,234 27,060 -2%
Waste Solid Waste (landfill and
compost)
29,171 27,878 -4%
Wastewater 65 60 -8%
Total 196,169 179,086 -9%
Commercia
l and
Industrial
Buildings
27%
Residential
Buildings
30%
Fugitive
Emissions
1%
Transportation
26%
Solid
Waste
16%
Wastewater Treatment
0.03%
Commercial
and
Industrial
Buildings
29%
Residential
Buildings
29%
Fugitive
Emissions
1%
Transportation
26%
Solid
Waste
15%
Wastewater
Treatment
0.03%
Figure 1: Aspen's 2019 Emissions by Sector Figure 2: Aspen's 2020 Emissions by Source
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Emissions without the contribution from aviation are 166,935 mtCO 2e in 2019 and
152,025 mtCO2e in 2020. See Figures 3 and 4.
Figure 3: Aspen's 2019 Emissions by Source With and Without Aviation Contributions
Figure 4: Aspen's 2020 Emissions by Source With and Without Aviation Contributions
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Natural gas makes up the greatest percentage of emissions at 32%, followed by
building electricity at 26%. Solid waste and aviation are also significant contributors to
overall emissions, comprising 16% and 15%, respectively. See Figures 5 and 6.
Once again, the relative contribution of emissions sources was consistent from 2019
and 2020. In 2019, natural gas was the greatest contributor to overall emissions at 35%,
and electricity made up 24% of total emissions. Solid waste and aviation both
contributed 15%.
Building
Electricity,
24.0%
Natural
Gas, ,
34.7%
Propane,
0.3%
On-Road
Vehicles,
11.1%
Aviation,
14.9%
Solid
Waste,
14.9%
Building
Electricity,
25.9%
Natural
Gas, 31.9%
Propane,
0.4%
On-Road
Vehicles,
11.1%
Aviation,
15.1%
Solid
Waste,
15.6%
Figure 5: Aspen's 2019 Emissions by Source Figure 6: Aspen's 2020 Emissions by Source
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Aspen’s GHG Emissions Details
BUILDING SECTOR EMISSIONS
Because emissions from
residential and commercial
buildings account for over
half of all Aspen’s emissions
(57%), this presents
significant opportunity for
climate action efforts.
In 2020, residential electricity
comprised 27% of building
sector emissions, and
residential natural gas
accounted for 25% of total emissions. This is fairly comparable to the 2019 inventory in
which residential electricity contributed 23% and residential natural gas made up 26%
of total building emissions. See Figures 7 and 8.
Commercial and industrial energy uses, which includes multifamily housing, make up
the other major proportion of emissions. In 2020, commercial electricity accounted for
18% of building emissions and commercial natural gas accounted for 28%. Once again,
these emissions are fairly comparable to the 2019 inventory where commercial
Residential
Electricity
23%
Residential
Natural
Gas
26%
Commerci
al
Electricity
18%
Commerci
al Natural
Gas
31%
Fugitive
Emissions
2%
Residential
Electricity
27%
Residential
Natural
Gas
25%
Commerci
al
Electricity
18%
Commerci
al Natural
Gas
28%
Fugitive
Emissions
2%
Figure 7: Aspen's 2019 Stationary Energy
Emissions Details Figure 8: Aspen's 2020 Stationary Energy
Emissions Details
24
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electricity made up 17% of building emissions and commercial natural gas made up
31%. Residential and commercial building emissions decreased by 10% from 2019 to
2020, with more reductions seen in commercial buildings than residential buildings.
This indicates that the slowdown in the commercial sector and tourism activities in
2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were significant contributors to emissions
reductions from this sector.
Since 2017, residential and commercial
energy emissions have decreased
significantly. Residential energy
emissions have decreased 30% and
commercial energy has been reduced by
18%. This can largely be credited with the
adoption of renewable energy policies
and programs by the city’s electric utility
providers. Aspen is served by two
electrical utilities: Aspen Electric, the City-
owned municipal utility which provides
electricity for approximately 19% of Aspen
customers, and Holy Cross Energy, which
provides the remainder of electricity in
Aspen. Aspen Electric has transitioned to
100% renewable energy. The emissions
coming from electricity use in homes
served by Aspen Electric are negligible.
Holy Cross has also been actively greening its fuel mix over the past several ye ars, and
in 2020 the utility’s resource mix was reported to be 44 % sourced from renewable
energy (an increase from 26% renewably sourced in 2017).
A small share (1% in both 2019 and 2020) of stationary energy emissions are due to
fugitive emissions that occur from the leakage of natural gas through the distribution
system to homes and buildings.
Emissions from the building sector
accounted for 57% of total emissions in
2020 and 58% in 2019. Emissions from the
building energy sector have significantly
decreased since 2017 (30% for residential
buildings and 18% for commercial
buildings). Much of this decrease can be
attributed to the adoption of renewable
energy sources by Aspen’s main electrical
utility. Emissions from stationary energy
decreased 10% between 2019 and 2020,
with more savings coming from
commercial buildings than residential
buildings, indicating that the slowdown in
commercial activity during the COVID-19
pandemic was likely the primary driver of
emissions reductions during this time
period.
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11 | Page
COVID-19 IMPACT
Emissions from the stationary energy sector decreased 10% between 2019 and 2020,
with more savings from commercial buildings than residential buildings. The decrease
in commercial activity during the COVID-19 pandemic was likely the primary driver of
commercial building emissions reductions during this time period.
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR EMISSIONS
The relative contribution of the transportation sector stayed consistent from 2019-
2020 (making up 26% of Aspen’s total emissions in both years). However, the metric
tons of transportation emissions were reduced by over 4,000 mtCO2e from 2019-2020.
Within the transportation sector, aviation is the greatest emitter, accounting for 58%
of transportation emissions in 2020 (and 57% in 2019). Since 2017, aviation emissions
have increased by nearly 63%. Between 2019 and 2020, however, emissions from the
aviation sector decreased by 7%. This is likely a result of pandemic travel restrictions.
In both 2019 and 2020, on-road transportation in gasoline and diesel personal and
freight vehicles made up about 41% of the emissions from the transportation sector. A
very small proportion of transportation emissions are generated from transit activities
through the Roaring Fork Transit Authority’s (RFTA) service in the City (2% in 2019 and
1% in 2020). Less than a quarter of one percent of transportation emissions come from
the use of electric vehicles. See Figures 9 and 10.
On-Road
Gasoline
33%
On-Road
Diesel
8%Transit
2%
Aviation,
57%
On-Road
Gasoline
33%
On-Road
Diesel
8%
Transit
1%
Aviation
58%
Figure 9: Aspen's 2019 Transportation Emissions
Details
Figure 10: Aspen's 2020 Transportation Emissions
Details
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12 | Page
Total emissions from on-road activity in Aspen have
decreased by 61% since 2017. This is primarily a result of
a new methodology used to calculate vehicle miles
traveled (VMT). The new methodology more accurately
attributes regional trips to the City of Aspen and
therefore reduces the amount of VMT accounted for in
Aspen’s inventory. Additionally, active efforts on the
part of the City of Aspen and RFTA to improve public
transit access and service in the community have
aimed to decrease congestion. Aspen’s CAP outlines
several strategies that have likely contributed to
reduced emissions in the on-road sector, including
(but not limited to) expanding transit networks and
incentives, expanding safe multi-modal (i.e., biking,
walking, and transit) options in the community, and
increasing the ratio of electric vehicles (EVs) in fleets
throughout the community.
COVID-19 IMPACT
Aspen's total VMT decreased 8% from 2019 to 2020. Correspondingly, from 2019 -2020,
on-road transportation emissions were reduced by 9%. A viation emissions also
experienced an 8% decrease in emissions from 2019 -2020. Up until 2019, aviation
emissions were increasing dramatically each year. The 2019-2020 drop in
transportation emissions reductions can largely be attributed to the pandemic.
Transportation emissions made
up 26% of all of the City of
Aspen’s emissions in 2020. The
majority of these emissions
come from on-road passenger
and freight vehicles (41%) and
in-boundary aviation (58%).
Since 2017, on-road
transportation emissions have
decreased significantly (62%).
This is due in large part to an
updated methodology to
calculate VMT study. It can also
be attributed, in part, to the
success of the City’s effort to
improve multimodal and EV
options.
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WASTE SECTOR EMISSIONS
The waste sector accounted for 16% of Aspen’s total
emissions in 2020 and 15% in 2019. Within the waste
sector, almost the entirety of emissions came from
landfilled waste (99%), while only 1% came from
compost and 0.2% came from wastewater. Refer to
Figure 11.
Total emissions from community-generated solid
waste have increased slightly (2%) since 2017. Waste
emissions are historically some of the most difficult
to measure due to difficulties in accurately tracking and attributing waste to
communities. Waste deposited at the Pitkin County Solid Waste Center (PCSW) is
attributed to Aspen based on population; construction and demolition (C&D) waste,
which makes up a significant portion (58%) of the waste tonnage in Aspen, is
determined based on the total amount of C&D waste disposed of at PCSW and
Aspen’s proportion of building permits relative to surrounding communities.
In general, per-capita waste generation is extremely high in Aspen. On average, 17.3
pounds of waste is produced per capita
each day in Aspen. This is nearly four
times the US average of 4.5 pounds per
capita per day. However, this per capita
value only reflects Aspen’s full-time
resident population, and doesn’t consider
the fact that Aspen is a tourist-based
economy. Therefore, all waste produced
by out-of-town visitors is attributed to
residents.
COVID-19 IMPACT
In general, there are a couple COVID-19 factors that could influence waste. On the one
hand, the pandemic led to an increase in take-out packaging, disposable products,
and masks that ended up in landfills. On the other hand, the pandemic led to a
The vast majority of waste
emissions in Aspen come from
solid waste that is landfilled
(99%); 1% of waste emissions
come from composting food
and other organic waste.
Waste emissions have
decreased by 2% from 2017 to
2020.
Landfilled
Waste
98.8%
Compost
1.0%Wastewater
0.2
Figure 11: Aspen's 2020 Waste Emissions
Details
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14 | Page
decrease in tourism. This is particularly relevant for communities, like Aspen, that
experience a large influx of visitors. The reduction in tourism may have reduced the
city’s waste and emissions in 2020.
Overall, waste emissions decreased 4% (1,293 mtCO2e) from 2019 -2020 in the City of
Aspen. This is a relatively small decrease, and it is difficult to determine the degree to
which the pandemic influenced this reduction.
Contributors to Aspen’s Emissions Trends
To better understand the major drivers of emissions trends between 2017 and 2020,
the ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability Contribution Analysis tool4 was
completed for Aspen. This tool normalizes changes in emissions with external factors
such as population change and weather patterns to determine the primary drivers in
emissions changes between the two years.
Based on this analysis, the known drivers that increased emissions produced in Aspen
between 2017 and 2020:
• Increased commercial energy use per job.
• Population growth.
• Colder winter.
The primary drivers that led to a 23% reduction in emissions between 2017 and 2020
were:
• Decrease in energy use per household.
• Decrease in VMT per person.
• Decrease in jobs in the area.
• Electricity and heating fuels mix.
The graph below shows the factors that drove up emissions (red) as well as the
greatest contributors to the decrease in emissions (blue) from 2017-2020. According
to the graph, increased commercial energy use per job and population growth were
significant factors in driving up emissions. Conversely, lower energy use per household
4 See https://icleiusa.org/ghg-contribution-analysis/.
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15 | Page
and decreased VMT per person were the primary contributors to reducing emissions
between 2017 and 2020. Refer to Figure 12.
Forecasted Emissions and Progress Towards Aspen’s
Goals
Aspen has established aggressive emission reduction goals to align with science -
based targets—the City is striving for a 63% reduction in emissions from the 2017
baseline by 2030, and to be net-zero emissions by 2050.
While Aspen is making good progress towards its goals by achieving a 23% reduction
in emissions between 2017 and 2020, the community is unlikely to meet its emissions
reduction targets without further action. Figure 13 shows the business-as-usual
170,000
190,000
210,000
230,000
250,000
270,000
290,000
310,000
Metric Tons CO2eFigure 12: Aspen's 2017-2020 Contribution Analysis
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16 | Page
emissions forecast (i.e., the most likely emissions trajectory if no further action is taken)
compared to Aspen’s 2030 and 2050 goals.
Aspen’s emissions are anticipated to grow between 2030 and 2050 in line with
expected community population growth. In order for Aspen to reach its goals,
additional policies, programs, and community engagement will be needed. Areas of
opportunity may include reducing emissions from building energy use through energy
reduction programs and policies and building electrification policies. Additional
progress may come from supporting greater adoption of EVs and decreasing the use
of single occupancy vehicles in the community.
Conclusion
The Aspen community has reduced its overall GHG emissions by 23% from the 2017
baseline. This impressive reduction in emissions demonstrates Aspen’s leadership and
commitment to mitigating the impacts of climate change. Aspen’s innovative
approach to emissions reductions, including moving the municipal -owned electric
utility to 100% renewable energy, investing in projects to increase community -wide
building energy efficiency, and improving public transit systems, have in large part
driven these emissions reductions. In addition, Aspen has implemented successful
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
2017 2019 2020 Forecasted
2030
Forecasted
2050Emissions (mt CO2e)Stationary Energy Transportation Waste Other
2050 Goal:
Net-Zero
Emissions
2030 Goal:
63% reduction
from 2017
Figure 13: Aspen's business-as-usual forecasted emissions and reduction goals
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17 | Page
waste diversion programs, which have reduced emissions from the waste sector , a
small amount, although there is more room for progress here .
Aspen continues to establish itself as a leading community. In the coming decades,
climate mitigation efforts must continue and intensify to reach the City’s goal of net-
zero emissions by 2050. Through a continued effort to improve and accelerate the
data-driven strategies, projects, programs, and policies outlined in Aspen’s climate
action plan, the City can ensure that Aspen remains at the forefront of climate action.
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Appendix A: Table of All Emissions by Source and Sector
Emissions Inventory by Scope Summary
Scope 2019 Emissions 2019 % of Total 2020 Emissions 2020 % of Total
Scope 1 90,515 46% 77,649 43%
Scope 2 47,184 24% 46,438 26%
Scope 3 58,469 30% 54,998 31%
Total 196,169 179,086
Emissions by Sector Summary
Sector 2019
Emissions
Percent of
2019 Total
2020
Emissions
Percent of
2020 Total
2019 to 2020
Change
Commercial and
Industrial Buildings 56,167 29% 48,484 27% -14%
Residential Buildings 57,295 29% 53,700 30% -6%
Fugitive Emissions 2,293 1% 1,920 1% -16%
Transportation 51,179 26% 47,044 26% -8%
Solid Waste 29,171 15% 27,878 16% -4%
Wastewater 65 0.03% 60 0.03% -8%
Total 196,169 179,086 -9%
All Emissions by Source
Sector Source 2019
Emissions
2019 % of
Total
2020
Emissions
2020 %
of Total
Energy Electricity 47,053 24% 46,309 26%
Natural Gas 68,134 35% 57,067 32%
Propane 567 0.3% 728 0.4%
Transportation On-Road Gas and Diesel
Vehicles
21,814 11% 19,855 11%
On-Road EVs and EV Buses 131 0.07% 129 0.07%
Aviation 29,234 15% 27,060 15%
Waste Solid Waste (landfill and
compost)
29,171 15% 27,878 16%
Wastewater 65 0.03% 60 0.03%
Total 196,169 179,086
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Appendix B: Inventory Methodology
Lotus Engineering and Sustainability, LLC (Lotus) was contracted by the Community
Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE), the City of Aspen, and Pitkin County to create
2019 and 2020 community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventories for the
City of Aspen. The purpose of these GHG emissions inventories is to create a clear
picture of current GHG emission sources in Aspen and provide an updated inventory
that will guide climate action planning.
INVENTORY METHODOLOGY
The 2019 and 2020 GHG inventories use the Global Protocol for Community-Scale
Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories (GPC protocol) methodology.5 The GPC provides
a transparent and consistent GHG accounting methodology for reporting community
GHG emissions. There are two reporting levels for the community framework:
- BASIC: The BASIC level includes stationary energy, in-boundary transportation,
and community-generated waste.
- BASIC+: The BASIC+ level includes BASIC emissions sources, as well as more
comprehensive coverage of emissions sources such as transboundary
transportation; electricity transmission and distribution losses; industrial
processes and product use; and agriculture, forestry, and other land uses.
The 2019 and 2020 community GHG inventories were developed in compliance with
the GPC BASIC reporting level. Emissions from transboundary aviation, which is a
BASIC+ source, were additionally included in these inventories because they represent
emissions occurring primarily as a direct result of the community’s tourism -based
economy.
5For more information regarding GPC see: http://c40-production-
images.s3.amazonaws.com/other_uploads/images/143_GHGP_GPC_1.0.original.pdf?142686
6613.
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CALCULATING EMISSIONS
GHG emissions are a product of emission
factors and activity data. Emission factors
represent the carbon intensity of the fuel or
materials used in a specific activity. Activity
data refers to the data measured for the
community GHG emission inventory
calculations, such as fuel consumed, electricity
consumed, tons of waste generated, and
vehicle miles traveled. Activity data is
influenced by community indicators (e.g.,
population, economic growth, etc.), energy
consumption, and other consumption-related
behaviors (e.g., mode of transportation, etc.).
Changes in emissions result from the interplay
of activity data and emission factors.
EMISSIONS INVENTORY BOUNDARY
Aspen's GHG inventories prior to 2019 used an
emissions inventory boundary (EIB) to
calculate emissions; this EIB included the City
of Aspen and parts of unincorporated Pitkin
County around the city, including ski areas,
residential neighborhoods, and the
Aspen/Pitkin County Airport. This boundary was
used previously because it was assumed to
capture emissions from the geographic area
that represents the total of Aspen’s core
functionality and economy. The 2019 and 2020
inventories do not use the EIB, but instead, use
the City of Aspen's legal boundaries to fully
align with the GPC protocol and the methods used for other surrounding communities.
The emissions outside Aspen’s city limit are now accounted for in the unincorporated
Pitkin County inventories. Due to the larger geographic boundary in the 2019/2020
GHG Emissions:
Scope 1, 2, and 3
Scope 1: GHG emissions from
sources located within the c
community’s boundary, including:
• Energy and transportation fuel
combustion.
• Fugitive emissions (i.e.,
leakage of natural gas).
• Wastewater treated within the
boundary.
Scope 2: Emissions occurring outside
of the boundary because of the use
of grid-supplied electricity, heat,
steam, and/or cooling within the
boundary.
Scope 3: GHG emissions that occur
outside the boundary because of
activities taking place within the
boundary:
• Solid waste (including
compost) treated outside the
boundary.
• Transportation activities for
which fuel combustion occurs
outside the boundary.
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inventory, emissions from previous Aspen inventories are significantly higher. The 2017
Aspen inventory has been adjusted to reflect the new geographic boundary so
accurate comparisons can be made to the 2017 baseline year.
EMISSIONS SCOPE, SECTORS, AND SOURCES
The inventory analyzes emissions by scope and further breaks down emissions into
applicable sectors (e.g., residential building energy use, on-road transportation, etc.)
and source (e.g., electricity, natural gas, mobile gasoline, etc.). The 2020 inventory
quantifies emissions from the scopes, sources, and sectors in the text box to the right.
E
Works Cited
i United Nations. (2021). “IPCC report: Code red for human driven global heating,
warns UN chief. https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/08/1097362
ii RMCI. (2018). Climate Change in the Headwaters: Snow and Ice Impacts.
Retrieved from Northwest Colorado Council of Governments:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=D&q=http://nwccog.org/wp-
content/uploads/2018/02/Climate-Change-in-the-
Headwaters.pdf&ust=1638309720000000&usg=AOvVaw3g31rieZYc3ORJgSX3N
ybs&hl=en
iii ACGI. (2019). Climate Change and Aspen: An Update to the 2006 Report. Aspen,
CO: self-published.
36