climate
2/20/2026
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Report: Climate Change Could Cost Colorado Billions by 2050

Report: Climate Change Could Cost Colorado Billions by 2050
AI-Generated Summary

A new report from the Colorado Fiscal Institute (CFI) estimates that the economic costs of climate change in Colorado could reach $37 billion by 2050. The study, authored by CFI analyst Pegah Jalali, aims to quantify the financial toll of climate impacts already being felt, including shorter ski seasons, hotter summers, longer wildfire seasons, and strain on infrastructure. Senior economist Chris Stiffler emphasized the report is about 'real costs that are showing up today,' from 2025 onward. The findings were highlighted at a press conference where advocates, including representatives from 350 Colorado, shared personal stories to underscore the human toll. Victims of the 2021 Marshall fire and a woman who lost her mother to a heat wave spoke, urging state lawmakers to take action in the upcoming legislative session. The report was funded in part by Aspen One. However, the study's conclusions have been met with skepticism. Critics, notably from Climate Change Dispatch, argue the $37 billion figure 'collapses under scrutiny when real-world data are examined.' They identify the Colorado Fiscal Institute as a 'left-leaning research and policy nonprofit' and question its methodology, suggesting the analysis is advocacy-driven rather than straightforward economic forecasting. This criticism highlights the ongoing debate over how to accurately price the future costs of a changing climate.

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Sources

Climate change is already costing Colorado. A new report estimates how much the costs will rise through 2050. | SteamboatToday.com

www.steamboatpilot.com
50%

Shorter ski seasons, hotter summers, longer wildfire seasons, increasingly burdened infrastructure and other climate-related impacts could cost Colorado up to $37 billion by 2050. This is according to an estimate from a new Colorado Fiscal...

Colorado's climate change costs will be high

coloradosun.com
50%

Now more than ever, green-minded ... of 350 Colorado, a nonprofit that helped gather individual voices affected by climate change for the study’s Jan. 30 unveiling. Victims of the 2021 Marshall fire spoke at a state Capitol news conference, as did a woman who said she lost her healthy mom to heat stroke on a vacation during a scorching Caribbean heat wave. Activists mean to “bring home the human toll as well as the economic costs that we have ...

Climate change is already costing Colorado. A new report estimates how much the costs will rise through 2050. | PostIndependent.com

www.postindependent.com
50%

Shorter ski seasons, hotter summers, longer wildfire seasons, increasingly burdened infrastructure and other climate-related impacts could cost Colorado up to $37 billion by 2050. This is according to an estimate from a new Colorado Fiscal...

Climate change is already costing Colorado; New report estimates how much costs will rise through 2050 | AspenTimes.com

www.aspentimes.com
50%

Shorter ski seasons, hotter summers, longer wildfire seasons, increasingly burdened infrastructure and other climate-related impacts could cost Colorado up to $37 billion by 2050.

$37 Billion Climate Cost Claim For Colorado Collapses Under Scrutiny - Climate Change Dispatch

climatechangedispatch.com
50%

A widely cited study claiming $37 billion in climate costs for Colorado collapses under scrutiny when real-world data are examined.

Aspen One funds climate change study for Colorado, speaks at capitol | AspenTimes.com

www.aspentimes.com
50%

The press conference highlighted the findings of the study and urged Colorado’s electeds to act on climate in the upcoming legislative session. “The report is … about real costs that are showing up today, from 2025 to 2050,” said Chris Stiffler, senior economist at the Colorado Fiscal ...

Climate change to lead to shorter Colorado ski season, worse snow

www.denverpost.com
50%

This year's warm temperatures and more variable snow could be a sign of future Colorado ski seasons as climate change takes hold -- and seasons grow shorter while snow quality deteriorates at resorts.

$37 Billion Climate Cost Claim For Colorado Collapses Under Scrutiny - Climate Change Dispatch

climatechangedispatch.com
50%

Up to $37 billion, a new study ... the Colorado Fiscal Institute (CFI), “which uses research to promote equitable economic policies.” · In other words, this is a left-wing activist advocacy group, not a firm that performs straightforward economic analysis. TCS says that the study “largely avoids scare scenarios about climate vortexes and unlivable homelands,” which is a refreshing change from studies ...

Climate change is already costing Colorado. A new report estimates how much the costs will rise through 2050. | PostIndependent.com

www.postindependent.com
50%

Colorado Fiscal Institute is a left-leaning research and policy nonprofit centered on economic and fiscal policies. Pegah Jalali, an analyst at the nonprofit and the report’s author, said the goal was to help “move the climate conversation from ‘we know it’s bad’ to a defensible, ...

Climate change is already costing Colorado; New report estimates how much costs will rise through 2050 | AspenTimes.com

aspentimes.com
50%

Colorado Fiscal Institute is a left-leaning research and policy nonprofit centered on economic and fiscal policies. Pegah Jalali, an analyst at the nonprofit and the report’s author, said the goal was to help “move the climate conversation from ‘we know it’s bad’ to a defensible, ...

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