Setting the stage…

On April 16th, 2019, A joint resolution was proposed, supporting a State Green Mountain New Deal, and associated legislative and public policy proposals related to climate change and social justice.

This proposal was offered by Representatives Cina of Burlington and Ralph of Hartland. It comes in response to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s assertion that human-produced greenhouse gases (GHGs) will continue to increase the global temperature; to prevent devastating climate change resulting from global warming, the increase in the atmospheric temperature must not exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrialized levels, reaching net-zero global Greenhouse Gas emissions by 2050 at the latest.

The Senate and House of Representatives has resolved that the General Assembly declares a climate injustice emergency and will act swiftly to prioritize climate change and social justice legislation in all legislative committees.

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And?

The Green Mountain New Deal is a first step in a much longer process, where future legislation and action will be necessary to address climate justice issues. The State on Vermont should work to implement a Green Mountain New Deal program with a specific focus on energy, infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, land use, economic justice, demilitarization, inequality, indigenous sovereignty, and financial reform in accordance with the Just Transition Framework of the Climate Justice Alliance.

Here in the Northeast of the United States, we are already experiencing the detrimental impacts of climatic change, including Tropical Storm Irene, Lyme disease, decreased snowpack, and negatively affected crop yields.

There is a significant recognition that to combat climate change, issues of socioeconomic inequality must be addressed, as a pillar of new climate plans and legislation. Climate change disproportionately affects communities of color: indigenous, migrant, rural and low-income communities, women, the elderly, the homeless, people with disabilities, youth and future generations. Consequently, social equity and justice are central efforts to address climate change.

The current trend of growing inequality, as illustrated by an increasing statewide Gini coefficient since the 1980s, will further exacerbate disproportionate impacts of climate change. The State of Vermont recognizes much of its polluting infrastructure is built on traditional Abenaki land, without the voluntary, prior, or informed consent of the Abenaki people.

Making up six percent of statewide employment, clean energy jobs serve as an important pillar of the State’s economy. Going forward, renewable industry growth can reduce the $2.3 billion sum that leaves the State annually for fossil fuel purchases. The Vermont Comprehensive Energy Plan requires a 90 percent reliance on renewable energy by 2050, and Greenhouse Gas reduction goals in Vermont State Legislature (10 V.S.A. § 578) requires a 75 percent reduction in Greenhouse Gas emissions from the 1990 baseline, reaffirming Vermont’s commitment to the Paris Climate Accord.

Since 1990, the State of Vermont has recorded a 16 percent increase in GHG emissions and the State of Vermont can be a role model in addressing climate change.