Vermont Business Magazine Area businesses and nonprofits are increasingly involved with climate change--both its challenges and opportunities. Their creative solutions are becoming a growing part of our state’s economy. What are your experiences? Do you have ideas that can help nurture this sector in Vermont? Join Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger and local business leaders for the final statewide forum on What’s Next for Vermont’s Climate Change Economy? The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) is producing this discussion which takes place at Contois Auditorium in Burlington’s City Hall on Thursday, October 29, from 7-9pm.
The free regional forum is the next step for public input to the Vermont Climate Change Economy Council. This group, formed following a statewide Summit in February, is developing a practical plan to reduce carbon emissions and stimulate green economic development in Vermont. The panelists include Neale Lunderville, General Manager at Burlington Electric, Scott Johnstone, Executive Director of VEIC, and Marguerite Dibble, President and CEO of gametheory.
“As a community keenly aware of the causes and harmful impact of climate change, Burlington is proud to be a national leader in energy innovation that helps reduce our adverse impact,” said Mayor Weinberger. “With Burlington sourcing 100 percent of our power from renewable generation, including biomass, hydro, wind, and solar, we are working hard to do our part. I encourage Burlingtonians and Vermonters to join us at this forum and to share their ideas about what further action we all can take to confront climate change.”
The Summit focused on economic development in a time of climate change, including transportation, education, investment strategies, downtown redevelopment, tourism, and efficiency. The report, which provides excellent background material for the upcoming forum, is online at vtrural.org/programs/summits/2015-climate-economy-report
More information about the forum and the Council can be found through VCRD’s home page at vtrural.org, through Facebook at Vermont Climate Change Economy, or by contacting Jenna Whitson at 802 225-6091 or [email protected].
The Vermont Council on Rural Development is a non-profit organization charged by the federal farm bill to act as a neutral convener at both the local and policy level supporting the progress of Vermont communities. VCRD will promote the platform of action that comes from the deliberations of Summit participants.
Past VCRD policy efforts have supported progress in issues ranging from wood products to downtown revitalization, rural energy development, the digital economy, and Vermont’s working landscape. VCRD produced the most extensive evaluation of Vermont values and priorities in a generation when it led the Council on the Future of Vermont in 2009.