CO Study: Climate Change Could Bring More Disease, Crop Damage, Fires

"Colorado could see more infectious disease, negative impacts on the elderly and people living in poverty, as well as stresses to water, cattle and crops as byproducts of future climate change, according to a comprehensive new report commissioned by the Colorado Energy Office.

"The important takeaway is, here's what's important to Colorado," said Eric Gordon, co-lead editor of the 176-page report and managing director of the Western Water Assessment at the University of Colorado. "We're not talking about things that have nothing to do with us, like sea level rise. This is what's important to Colorado and what we should be worrying about."

The exhaustive report includes chapters devoted to seven separate sectors where the state might show vulnerability to climate change — ecosystems, water, agriculture, energy, transportation, outdoor recreation and public health."

Charlie Brennan reports for the Boulder Daily Camera February 4, 2015.