Elizabeth Courtney
Editor’s note: This oped was written by Elizabeth Courtney, the executive director of the Vermont Natural Resources Council.
The historic Copenhagen climate summit has concluded. And now we are taking stock.
What did it accomplish?
The massive meeting certainly helped to rally a formidable grassroots global movement with the goal of cutting greenhouse gases. But we must admit that the summit itself failed to commit the world to any kind of fair, ambitious, or legally binding agreement to cut pollution to levels necessary to avoid major global disruption from climate change.
Here in Vermont – a state with a strong conservation history – the disappointment of Copenhagen means one thing: We must redouble our efforts to cut our own emissions, and serve as an example to other states and, even nations.
In 2005, the Douglas Administration established the Vermont Governor’s Climate Change Commission and in 2007 the Commission issued its report. It outlined a path, based on 38 policy options, to meet the goals of a 25 percent reduction of greenhouse gases from 1990 levels by 2012, 50 percent by 2025 and 75 percent by 2050.
We are on the eve of 2010 now, and there is virtually no chance that we will meet Vermont’s 2012 carbon reduction goal. To reach that goal, Vermonters would, as a state, have to reduce by 30 percent our carbon output. That’s unlikely to happen.
I was a member of the Governor’s commission and I’m proud of the work we did to identify specific policy actions the state could take to reduce our contribution to climate change. However, I would unfortunately have to agree with the disappointing conclusion that Tim Johnson expressed about the lack of follow through. Writing in the Sunday December 6th Sunday Free Press, he says:
“The report opened with a familiar invocation of Vermont’s stellar environmental reputation, stating that in its response to the challenge of climate change, ‘Vermont can make an enormous difference and serve as a model for the region, nation, and the world.’ So far, however, Vermont appears to have fallen short of that standard, and global delegates to the international Climate Conference, after they convene Monday, Dec. 7 in Copenhagen, likely will be looking elsewhere for their models.”
Why is the state of Vermont so slow to move to a low carbon diet?
It’s certainly not for a lack of enthusiasm at the community level. There are now over 90 town energy committees in the state, taking on energy-saving, greenhouse gas reducing initiatives, with the support of non-profits, including Vermont Natural Resources Council. More Vermonters per capita than in any other place in the world participated in the historic October 24th International Climate Day of Action. And 250 engaged and active Vermonters spent a recent Saturday at the “Community Energy and Climate Action Conference” in Fairlee, where the crowd urged keynote speaker Pat Parenteau, of the Vermont Law School, to keep on talking after his time had expired, because he was telling the truth that needed to be heard about the costs of inaction on climate change, including human suffering and fiscal crises.
Clearly, people care. Surely there is a palpable sense of urgency. Why then the lack of momentum in Vermont?
I can only conclude that we are hampered by a lack of leadership from the top. In spite of the fact that the governor convened the Climate Commission, he has failed to lead on the most important element — the implementation of its recommendations. In the absence of needed follow-through and commitment, the vacuum is being filled by the people.
But even the most heroic efforts at the grassroots can take us only so far without leadership from the top. The essential work ahead will require deep, aggressive shifts in public policy and political will. It will also require central coordination at the top, to facilitate climate and energy work, oversee implementation of the policy options and monitor progress.
These are just some of the steps needed in Vermont. Even far greater measures will be required by nations around the world. As we reflect on the results of Copenhagen, we can hope the old adage will come to pass: If the people will lead, the leaders will follow. Our lives and our planet depend on it.
Elizabeth Courtney is the executive director of the Vermont Natural Resources Council. She lives in Montpelier.
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