
E134: Inside Denver's Local Climate Action Playbook
From Everybody in the Pool by Molly Wood
May 7, 2026 · 31 min · Episode 134
About this episode
Molly Wood discusses Denver's innovative climate action strategies with Chelsea Warren from the city's Office of Climate Action.
Washington and the COP conferences get all the headlines, but some of the most creative and effective climate action in the world is emerging from city halls — and Denver's Office of Climate Action is one of the best examples of what's possible. This week, Molly zooms in on the Mile High City as she talks with Chelsea Warren, Marketing and Communications Manager for Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency. Chelsea has spent years building one of the country's most effective city-level climate communications programs, making the case that local government is where climate action gets real. We talk about: Why local government is the frontline of climate action, and why local action matters more than ever How Denver used the rollback of federal climate policies to motivate voters to fund local climate initiatives like solar, e-bike rebates, heat pump programs, and more Using the science of behavioral change to effectively promote climate action Goodwill pop-ups, ice cream collaborations, and other non-traditional ways Denver activated around a climate campaign, and delivered 128 million impressions in the process Why financial incentives and positive social…
People in this episode
Host: Molly Wood
Guest: Chelsea Warren
Topics covered
- climate action
- local government
- sustainability
- community engagement
- behavioral change
- climate communications
Keywords
- climate action
- Denver
- local government
- sustainability
- behavioral change
- community initiatives
- climate communications
- solar rebates
- e-bike programs
- storytelling
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency
Places: Denver, Mile High City
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