Editor’s note: This commentary is by Harris Webster, of Montpelier, a retired social studies teacher and a member of the Unitarian Church of Montpelier’s Climate Action Team.
One of the many but understandable frustrations of living during the Covid-19 pandemic is that media discussions and public activism surrounding the global climate crisis have been limited. Less than a year ago there were protest marches, often involving youth inspired by Greta Thunberg’s “Our House Is On Fire” message; activities led by several environmental NGOs such as 350.org and Vermont Interfaith Power and Light, and public meetings throughout the state led by the Climate Solutions Caucus.
This caucus with members from both the Vermont Senate and House of Representatives and both parties provided Vermonters ideas they were considering for solutions for climate change as well as listening for Vermonters’ input. I believe the idea that all of us on this mother earth have a limited amount of time to deal with this climate crisis is still widely understood.
I won’t spend time explaining what has happened during the pandemic . We all know why attention turned away from the climate crisis to the pandemic crisis. I do want to spend some time noting that the underlying and deep concern about climate change and global warming and the need for climate solutions has not disappeared, at least in our state Legislature.
Last January, led by the Global Warming Solutions Caucus, the Vermont House of Representatives passed the Global Warming Solutions Act with a veto-proof margin. Just recently, after the state Legislature spent much of its virtual time on concerns raised by the pandemic, the Vermont Senate also passed the Global Warming Solutions Act. This act mandates that Vermont meets its Paris Accord goals and that failure to do so will have consequences rather simply than establishing voluntary goals with no consequence for failure.This is not small potatoes.
In response to a question in a webinar on Aug. 5 sponsored by the Energy Action Network, Tim Ashe and Mitzi Johnson assured attendees that, in some form, the final bill being worked on now will have adequate financing for the staff to administer the act, though the exact mechanism for doing so is not clear.
The good news is that only a veto by Gov. Phil Scott and some switching of previous yes votes for that original veto-proof vote to no votes by some Republicans can derail the Global Warming Solutions Act in the upcoming August-September session. The bad news is that if the bill is vetoed and enough Republicans do switch their votes, that could doom this positive effort to mitigate climate change. Note: If the bill passes there is still ample opportunities to debate and decide on the best way to meet Vermont’s Paris goals.
I believe youth concerned about their future, senior citizens concerned about their grandkids’ futures and all others believing climate solutions are an essential need to contact Scott and your state legislators ASAP. Taking better care of Earth should not be a partisan measure. Mitigating climate change should not be a partisan issue.
I call myself a moderate or rational radical. With all the crises our Earth and humanity are currently facing, including racial injustice, income inequality, and unacceptable levels of poverty as well the Covid 19 pandemic and climate change, these immense crises are so imminent and threatening that radical actions are needed. However, I don’t call myself a revolutionary radical. The Global WarmIng Solutions Act’s “mandate” is a mildly or moderately radical first step. We will need more radical actions down the road.
However, my observations of Vermont’s Legislature still dealing with climate change even during this year of the pandemic indicates more rational radical legislation will appear in next year’s session. Also after viewing Scott’s willingness to initiate radical steps to deal with the pandemic crisis, I believe he is capable of being rational and willing to be radical again. Whatever the case, I’ll be following Scott’s actions this fall and listening carefully to both candidates’ ideas on the climate crisis during this year’s governor debates.
