Vermont Business MagazineGovernorPeter Shumlin issued the following statement after world leaders reached an historic climate agreement in Paris, which acknowledges the consensus of the 195countrieson theneed to move away from carbon-based fuels andsetsthe goal oflimitingrisingglobal average temperates to below 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.
"Today is a day that should restore our faith inhumanity. At this critical moment in history, world leaders put aside competing national interests to come to an agreement that gives us a shot at preserving the only home we have. The easything to do would have been to give into self interest and mistrust. That didn't happen. Instead, humanity's better side prevailed. That should serve as an example of how we should address the other global challenges we face now and will face in the future.
"Here in Vermont, we have an important role to play. We must continue to show the rest of the world that despite a Congress dominated by climate change deniers, states like Vermont are serious about climate action. We have done that in the past and we must continue to do it in the future. This is not a time to pause, we must double our efforts to get off oil and coal and move Vermont to clean, green, and affordable renewable energy."