This commentary is by Robb Kidd of Montpelier, Vermont conservation program manager for the Sierra Club.
When President Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord for the first time, Vermonters acted immediately to maintain its commitments. Now, as Trump again rolls back foundational environmental protection policies and pulls the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord, Gov. Scott, along with his political and fossil fuel friends, is now trying to roll back our progress in Vermont. The Governor and his allies have spent more time delaying action than helping mitigate the impacts of climate change, even though Vermonters have been clear about the importance of acting to address climate change.
Back in 2017, Vermont stood up to Trump with the largest climate-related protests the state had ever seen. Thousands of Vermonters stood at the Statehouse for the people’s climate solidarity rally, the Youth Lobby marched following the lead of Greta Thunberg in her “climate strike,” and thousands of Vermonters demanded action on town meeting days, at select boards and at city councils. Vermont’s communities led the charge to address climate change, and communities across America followed suit. It all culminated with President Biden and Congress passing unprecedented climate investments in the Inflation Reduction Act, helping Vermonters today make decisions to retrofit homes, transition to electric vehicles and adapt to climate change.
We built a movement that led to the passage of the Global Warming Solutions Act, the Climate Superfund Bill, the Renewable Energy Standard Reform Bill and numerous policies to invest and transform Vermont’s transportation to electrification and non-auto-centric options. Disappointingly, and despite the record flooding that has besieged our state, Phil Scott and others in his party are now trying to undermine Vermont’s commitments to fight climate change with misinformation crafted directly from fossil fuel industry supporters. The Vermont Legislature must say no to rolling back Vermont’s Global Warming Solutions Act and not weaken its commitment to climate action.
Rollback on our climate priorities means Vermonters will continue to be tied to expensive, price-volatile fossil fuels to heat their homes and power their vehicles. Vermonters’ energy burden is already too high, and continued delay leaves Vermonters — not the oil industry — vulnerable to paying the price. The Global Warming Solutions Act laid the groundwork to ensure that Vermont centers equity within proposals. Because of the Global Warming Solutions Act, Vermont has plans for climate action that focus on providing all Vermonters access to clean technology and affordable renewable energy, while simultaneously reducing climate emissions and air pollution.
Vermont and America are at a crossroads. We can choose a path to a clean energy future in which all homes are heated efficiently with clean, regionally produced renewable energy. We can choose accessible and affordable transportation options by investing in transit, making our communities safe for bicycles or pedestrians and continuing the work to electrify trucks and personal vehicles. The economics are clear and Vermont benefits from a clean energy economy. Instead of exporting a billion dollars every year on fossil fuels, Vermont can produce clean renewable energy and keep money within the Vermont economy.
Vermont has repeatedly been a national leader on important issues. We were the first state to oppose slavery and adopt marriage equality. By partnering with other states, Vermont can forge forward with solutions. Vermonters know that we must act to protect our health and our future. Vermont may be a small state, but skirting responsibility by weakening climate action is not the Vermont way.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Robb Kidd: Weakening climate action is not the Vermont way.