U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Mark Udall and Congressmen Jared Polis and Ed Perlmutter heralded the International Council for Science's decision today to locate one of the five international hubs for the Future Earth Initiative at the University of Colorado-Boulder and Colorado State University. The 10-year international initiative is aimed at leveraging scientists, researchers and students worldwide to find innovative ways to confront global environmental change and develop strategies to encourage sustainability.

Bennet, Udall, Polis and Perlmutter urged the International Council for Science in November 2013 to select the University of Colorado-Boulder and Colorado State University to host one of the five international hubs for the Future Earth Initiative.

"Colorado is leading the charge in growing our innovation economy, and nowhere is that more true than at CU-Boulder and Colorado State University," Bennet said. "In partnership with federal laboratories and private companies, students and researchers are developing the cutting edge technology that will help build a more sustainable future for the world. Bringing the Future Earth Initiative to CU and CSU will shine a light on this work and continue a very important discussion on how we approach these issues."

"The University of Colorado-Boulder and Colorado State University are home to some of the most innovative thinkers and revolutionary research programs in the nation. This decision to locate one of the Future Earth Initiative international hubs in Colorado is a no-brainer and underscores the important work already being done in the Centennial State," Udall said. "I was proud to champion the University of Colorado-Boulder and Colorado State University's bid and could not be happier to see that the International Council for Science heeded my call. I will continue to fight to ensure Colorado remains at the forefront of developing strategies to confront global change and sustainability."

"The selection of CU-Boulder and CSU as one of five global hubs for the Future Earth Initiative is a remarkable and well-deserved accolade for these world-class institutions," Polis said. "CU-Boulder and CSU have already earned reputations as two of the most innovative and respected environmental science and climate change research universities and the addition of this initiative will allow them to further develop cutting edge solutions to stop global warming and ensure that our planet will be protected for generations to come."

"This is great news for Colorado and continues to prove why CSU and CU are leaders in advancing research capabilities and partnerships to address our nation's global environmental issues," Perlmutter said. "With Future Earth headquartered in Colorado, we have a tremendous opportunity to attract additional research dollars and leverage our universities as a hub for innovation and a leader in energy policy."