Vermont Business Magazine Last Friday, 13 business, low income, faith and environmental organizations denounced President Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Agreement and sent a letter to Governor Scott urging swift action to stem the negative consequences of this shortsighted move. They've issued a letter saying they are pleased that Governor Scott has decided that Vermont will join other state’s in the US Climate Alliance; one of six specific actions the groups called on Scott to take. The organizations thanked the governor for taking this first step and ask him to act on five other specific requests. SEE RELATED STORY HERE
Those include:
- Convening the Vermont Climate Cabinet and reconstituting the Governor’s Advisory Council on Energy and the Environment to identify and advance the solutions required to make meaningful state-level progress towards mitigating and adapting to climate change.
- Supporting enactment of legislation to statutorily enshrine the 90 percent by 2050 renewable goal.
- Reconsidering his recent proposal to significantly cut Efficiency Vermont’s funding and, instead, commit to funding all cost-effective efficiency measures.
- Commit Vermont to fully utilizing and leveraging the Volkswagon and future settlement funds to electrify and transform the state’s transportation sector.
- Put forth a clear plan for reaching Vermont’s near- and long-term greenhouse gas emission goals; outlining specifically how the Scott administration will implement the Comprehensive Energy Plan (CEP) and address climate resilience needs.
The Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement makes it clear that Vermont cannot rely on the federal government to address climate change and that this responsibilty now lies squarely with the states. Meeting the obligations of the Paris Agreement, the CEP and the state’s own statutory GHG reduction goals will require Governor Scott and state agencies to clearly identify, outline and advance specific policies and programs.
The 13 organizations who urged the above action include Capstone Community Action, Conservation Law Foundation, Lake Champlain International, Rights and Democracy, Renewable Energy Vermont, Vermont Business for Social Responsibility, Vermont Natural Resources Council, VPIRG, Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Alliance, Vermont Conservation Voters, Vermont Chapter of the Sierra Club, Vermont Interfaith Power & Light, 350 Vermont. Each of these organizations look forward to working with Gov. Scott, his administration, the legislature, businesses and deeply concerned Vermonters to advance climate solutions that work for Vermont and create a thriving 21st century clean energy economy.
LETTER:
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June 2, 2017 Dear Governor Scott, We appreciated you joining Governor Baker in calling on President Trump to remain in the Paris Climate Agreement. Unfortunately, as you know, yesterday President Trump announced that he will withdraw the United States from that agreement. This deeply troubling move makes it clear that the obligation and opportunity to act on climate lies squarely with the states. That is why we write today. Without a strong, state-led response – equal to and beyond what the Paris Climate Agreement required – this disturbingly shortsighted decision will set Vermont, this nation and the world back decades. It will result in catastrophe for the planet. It will also leave the greatest economic development opportunity this world has ever seen in the hands of global innovators who understand that the future – and financial prosperity – is in the clean energy sector. We request you take each of the following actions, as swiftly as possible: 1. Join other state governors in joining the U.S. Climate Alliance – a coalition that will focus and convene U.S. states committed to upholding the Paris Climate Agreement and take aggressive action on climate change. Please stand with Governor Cuomo, Governor Brown, Governor Inslee, dozens of mayors, and other likely states and cities in making clear that Vermont will adhere to the greenhouse gas reduction targets of the accord. 2. Convene the Vermont Climate Cabinet and reconstitute the Governor’s Advisory Council Energy and the Environment, similar to those of your most recent predecessors, to help identify and advance the solutions required to make meaningful progress towards mitigating and adapting to climate change. The Council should be cross-sectorial, transparent, publicly accessible and represent diverse viewpoints, including youth. Since the tenure of your predecessors, our world has warmed even more and the number and cost of climate-connected catastrophes has increased dramatically. A state-led, solutionsoriented, publicly accessible entity that focuses squarely on climate solutions and economic opportunity is essential. 3. Support enactment of legislation that would statutorily enshrine the 90 percent by 2050 renewable goal; a goal we all support. This would set an affirmative, clear direction for businesses, utilities and Vermonters to innovate around and help grow more good jobs in the now-thriving clean energy sector. With the right policies and political framework, we can put many more Vermonters to work making our buildings more efficient, installing solar, heat pumps and modern wood heating options and innovating on transportation. 4. Reconsider your proposal to significantly cut Efficiency Vermont’s funding and, instead, commit to funding all cost-effective efficiency measures. Efficiency is an affordable investment that benefits all Vermonters and one we should continue to strongly support. 5. Commit to fully utilizing and leveraging the Volkswagon and future settlement funds to electrify and transform Vermont's transportation sector. 6. Put forth a clear plan for reaching Vermont’s near- and long-term greenhouse gas emission goals; outlining specifically how your administration is implementing the Comprehensive Energy Plan and addressing climate resilience needs. We represent over 60,000 Vermonters, 875 businesses, low-income Vermonters and an engaged network of people deeply concerned about both their pocketbooks and the planet. We know that Vermonters overwhelmingly support strong action on climate and our state has made that clear too, establishing strong greenhouse gas reduction and renewable energy goals. Despite the job-creation these goals have helped spur, however, making the clean energy sector the fastest growing in our state, we are far from meeting them. We now also have a further imperative to act with the Trump Administration’s damaging malfeasance in this arena. If undertaken, the initiatives above will help ensure short- and long-term affordability for families and businesses, protect our environment, foster a thriving 21st century economy and protect those most vulnerable from climate change. We ask for a prompt response and request you to take each of these specific actions. We look forward to working with you, your administration, the legislature, businesses and deeply concerned Vermonters to advance climate solutions that work for Vermont and create a thriving 21st century clean energy economy. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Capstone Community Action, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, Lake Champlain International, Renewable Energy Vermont, Rights and Democracy Vermont, Natural Resources Council, Vermont Public Interest Research Group, Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Alliance, Conservation Law Foundation, Vermont Conservation Voters, Vermont Chapter of the Sierra Club, Vermont Interfaith Power & Light, 350 Vermont CC: House Speaker Mitzi Johnson Senate President Pro-Tem Tim Ashe |