Editor’s note: This commentary is by Dan Quinlan, the chair of Vermont Climate and Health Alliance who is an independent consultant and who works in nonprofit management. He has worked with hospital executive teams across New England on capital investment programs centered on energy efficiency and renewable energy.
[A]bout a year ago, a group of Vermont physicians, veterinarians, nurses, public health folks and other medical/health professionals (now the Vermont Climate and Health Alliance) came together around deep shared concerns about the impacts of climate change on the health of Vermont’s people and animals. One driver was the continuous stream of news about weather records being broken across the planet. Another was scientific data indicating that not only is global warming upon us, adverse changes are happening in line with medium- to worst-case climate change models. Another driver was what we kept seeing here at home. People know about the explosion in the number of ticks – driving both exponential growth in Lyme disease and a worrying reduction in our moose herd. But few know that Vermont’s carbon footprint is not falling – it’s growing.
So what does that mean for all of us? Vermont is going backwards as the global and national health crisis of the 21st century grows right in front of our eyes.
To back that last assertion up, here are three things to look at. First, to get a sense of the scope and scale of the problem, check out the diagram and discussion on this Center for Disease Control webpage. Then, take a look at two federal government reports that you can easily find on the web: “The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health,” and “National Security Implications of Climate-Related Risks and a Changing Climate,” from the Department of Defense.
The flip side of this extremely concerning picture is an enormous opportunity for Vermonters. Switching away from a fossil fuel based economy to a more efficient, renewable energy based economy is simply a smart, growth-oriented strategy. There seems to be general recognition and agreement on that point. Nevertheless, Vermont is backpedaling. One key reason is a lack of investment capital. The other is a lack of bold legislation – and that’s because too many Vermonters are sitting on the sidelines.
For starters, policy ideas that can create new investment streams and redistribute the flow of energy dollars (e.g., the ESSEX Plan and House Bill 791) need to be investigated, debated and implemented. We need to thoughtfully examine ideas for unlocking more investment in both energy efficiency and renewable energy businesses. We need to look carefully at policies that will take spending on fossil fuels that flows out of state and keep those energy dollars here within our borders. Carbon pricing solutions are backed by low-income groups, liberal groups and conservative groups. (For example, read “The Conservative Case for Carbon Dividends.”) Yet, a proposal to have Vermont’s Joint Fiscal Office just study these ideas (House Bill 763) may not see the light of day. How is that possible? Simple. There is a lot of rhetoric being tossed around that misrepresents the thinking, intent, and expected outcomes of the proposed ideas.
A study by the Joint Fiscal Office will help sweep away much of the noise. Then the Legislature would have a reasonable starting point for a thorough, fact-based, rational debate based on expert testimony and knowledge. If the well-funded winds of misinformation continue to win, we all lose.
Various folks have also suggested that we should wait until a national or regional solution emerges. We all know that Congress will not take this up. Maybe a big new New England regional initiative could be achieved? But the idea that it could happen any time soon ignores fundamental political and economic realities in each New England state. Also, and more to the point, a regional approach would water down Vermont’s potential to uniquely benefit (due to the fact that our electricity supply mix does not rely on coal or natural gas, unlike the rest of New England).
Every day the evidence is mounting that the threat of climate change to the well-being of low income Vermonters, our kids, the elderly, the chronically ill, and indeed all people is very real, is already here, and is accelerating. If we don’t all act, and act soon, our state and this country will be paying health and infrastructure related costs that are beyond comprehension.
The Legislature spent lots of time and energy developing a pot bill — because voters asked them to. Are we unwilling to push for serious debate about an issue that is far larger? And, where not acting boldly ASAP is morally and fiscally irresponsible. What does that say about our priorities as a society?
If you agree with this point of view, get in touch with your legislators and simply ask “what climate change and clean energy legislation are you backing?” Also ask them if they’re backing H.763. Then, compare those answers with ideas being proposed by legislators who are pushing for change. That’s really easy to do – check out Vermont’s “Climate Caucus” on Facebook and e-mail/call those legislators.
It’s time for all of us to get up and step into this conversation.
