Last week, as elected leaders, organizations and businesses gathered at ECHO to announce the formation of the Vermont Climate Pledge Coalition – we were there to greet those leaders and urge them to #WalkTheWalk when it comes to climate action.
“Right next to the news conference announcing the climate coalition at the ECHO Center on Burlington’s waterfront, a group of demonstrators from the Vermont Public Interest Research Group held up signs of support for wind energy, and calling on Scott and other political leaders to “walk the walk” when it comes to fighting climate change. The demonstrators didn’t do anything to interrupt the coalition’s event. Their presence was a reminder that despite Scott’s clear disagreement with the Trump administration on climate policy, Scott’s rhetoric on the issue doesn’t line up with his policy positions.” Taylor Dobbs, VPR
Scott’s administration has pledged to lower carbon emissions in accordance with standards set by the Paris Climate Accord, an international agreement which President Trump recently backed out of. However, these standards are less aggressive than goals previously set for the state of Vermont, and his continued lack of support for wind power and a price on carbon pollution will make it difficult to make any real dent in carbon emissions.
Our concerns were echoed by Ashley Orgain who represented Seventh Generation at this event. “To meet our commitments, especially in an era when the federal government is moving in the wrong direction, we think that an essential solution for Vermont is to price carbon pollution.”
To be clear — Vermont leaders coming together to pledge climate action is a good thing — but that pledge must be followed up with exactly that — action.