Our Climate Future (OCF) is the first City of Fort Collins planning process centered in equity for all, leading with race, from both process and outcome perspectives. We commit to:
- Equity in process: Ensuring everyone has meaningful opportunities to engage and provide input into the OCF planning process.
- Equity in outcomes: OCF recognizes that everyone needs to benefit from a carbon neutral Fort Collins.
OCF acknowledges climate change is not simply a technical problem to solve, but an issue deeply rooted in human systems which have historically produced significant disparities for people of color, with race being the most pervasive inequity in our country. For communities of color, low-income households, and other historically underrepresented groups, these inequities are already being exacerbated by climate change. Fort Collins has the opportunity to prioritize actions that simultaneously address equity, reduce emissions, and enhance community resilience - leading to better outcomes for all.
We also know that many other groups are marginalized, including based on gender, sexual orientation, ability, and age, to name a few. An equity framework that leads with race and is clear about the differences between individual, institutional, and structural racism, as well as the history and current reality of inequities, will lead to inclusion and better outcomes for all marginalized groups.
