This commentary is by George Plumb of Washington, Vt., a board member of BetternotbiggerVermont.
The Vermont Futures Project proposes to add 13,500 people to the workforce each year. To do this, it proposes the growth of Vermont’s total population by 1.8% per year to reach 802,000 people by 2035, and increasing the housing inventory to 350,000 non-seasonal units by 2035.
This seems largely a real estate push now that more people are showing an interest in moving to Vermont. Vermont’s current population is estimated at 647,064 in 2022, a gap of 154,936 to reach the 2035 goal. According to the group’s data, Vermont grew by only 92 people from 2021 to 2022.
In 2014, Vermonters for Sustainable Population for Vermont published a groundbreaking report titled, “What Is an Optimal Sustainable Population for Vermont?” It used 15 different criteria that were written by experts in their fields, one of which, as an example, was food self-sufficiency.
The report projected that a Vermont sustainable population should not be greater than 433,000. Vermont is already almost 150,000 beyond a sustainable level.
A very important question is “What is a good definition of sustainable?” The most often quoted definition comes from the U.N. World Commission on Environment and Development: “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
We are not living sustainably now as evidenced by global warming, the sixth mass extinction, constant wars over resources, and the list goes on.
For me, the question is not only about sustainability but how do we have a high quality of life? A life where we feel connected to our neighbors and the community? A life where nature and beauty surround us? A life where we do not fear violence in the streets?
Instead of proposing to grow the Vermont populations, let’s discuss what is a long-term sustainable population size and how do we get there. Every town planning committee, our governmental agencies, spiritual organizations, and our environmental organizations should have this issue at the top of their agenda.
“Smart growth” is not the answer! How we live sustainably with all life on Earth is.
As I type this on my computer, looking out the window at the beautiful view of the fall foliage on the hillside almost brings tears to my eyes. I hope we can preserve the natural world of Vermont instead of developing it with constant population growth.
