Climate Change Work Gathers Momentum

January 2006

VNRC Offered Seat on Governor’s Climate Change Commission
There is no longer a dispute that the world is warming and that humans are causing it. In December 2005 this stark reality spurred Governor Jim Douglas to announce the creation of a Vermont Climate Change Commission intended to tackle this monumental issue. VNRC’s Policy Director, Patrick Berry, was appointed to serve as one of the six-members charged with crafting a plan to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that Vermont produces. This is an important first step aimed at addressing the damaging consequences of global climate change, and will help the Green Mountain state position itself to better respond to the threats posed by greenhouse gas emissions.

“This is a serious committee tasked with solving our most serious environmental problem,” said Berry. “The consequences of inaction will no doubt be devastating for our economy and our environment. VNRC lauds Governor Douglas for supporting our work on climate change. We are proud that Vermont has taken some bold first steps to tackle this issue.”

Read more about the commission here.

Vermont Joins Landmark Initiative to Address Climate Change
The announcement of a Vermont Climate Change Commission parallels with the exciting news that on December 20, 2005, Vermont joined six other northeastern states in signing a far-reaching agreement intended to abate the potential cataclysmic problems associated with global climate change. The agreement, known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), is an ambitious and much-needed action plan which will create a regional cap-and-trade system for energy utility companies. Companies will utilize emissions credits or allowances to limit the total amount of earth-warming, greenhouse gas emissions they produce. Read more about this important agreement here.

New Climate Action Partnership - VECAN - to Bring Tools to Communities
VNRC continues to work on a variety of levels to advance policy, community, and local solutions that will help Vermont do its part to turn the tide on global warming. One exciting new initiative targeted at helping communities reduce their greenhouse gas emissions — and address climate change — was generously funded recently by the Maverick Lloyd and Jessie B. Cox foundations. VNRC, in collaboration with the Alliance for Climate Action (ACA), the Sustainable Energy Resource Group (SERG), the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation and the New England Grassroots Environment Fund launched the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network (VECAN) in a focused effort to support the development of local energy and climate action committees. To learn more about VECAN and its work to get concerned citizens proactively involved in designing energy-saving solutions for their communities, click here.