The state’s updated climate plan says Vermont policy should reflect the ‘abruptly ending’ unprecedented federal investment in CO2 reduction, according to a Vermont Agency of Natural Resources press release.
On June 23, the Vermont Climate Council adopted the updated Vermont Climate Action Plan. As required by the 2020 Global Warming Solutions Act, the plan identifies actions to reduce greenhouse gas emission and help Vermont prepare for the impacts of climate change, such as increased rain and heat. The initial Climate Action Plan was adopted in 2021 and must be updated every four years.
The updated plan contains more than fifty priority recommendations, emphasizing actions that:
- Make Vermont more resilient to flooding and other climate-related hazards
- Reduce climate pollution from transportation and buildings by moving from fossil fuels to electricity and strengthening the electric grid
- Support climate-informed land use and conservation
- Grow the climate workforce and identify funding to accelerate implementation
The plan also identifies key considerations for policymakers when designing and implementing climate action policy, including the need to:
Recognize unprecedented federal investment in climate action is abruptly ending
Design and pace climate action programs in a manner that limits financial hardship for low- and middle-income Vermonters
Balance investments between reducing climate pollution and growing climate resilience
Consider the costs of not acting when evaluating programs and policies
The adoption of the new Climate Action Plan comes at a time when the federal government is pulling back on key policies, such as support for electrification of vehicles and deployment of renewable energy, and curtailing funding. Even before this challenging context came into focus, Vermont faced a heavy lift to achieve its 2030 emissions reductions requirements under the GWSA and has struggled to fully recover from recent disasters. To successfully and fairly carry out this work, the plan recognizes that state must carefully consider how to prioritize investments in reducing emissions and building resilience.
View the updated Climate Action Plan.