The Legislative Climate Solutions Caucus is holding an online Town Hall next Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 7:00 PM., to review and discuss the Climate Action Plan released by the Climate Council on Dec. 1. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pcOqupjIuEtSocjyzDCEYWdBgGLau7kIu

The Plan is over 260 pages of detailed investigation into the challenges and choices Vermont faces with the rapidly destabilizing climate. How are we going to protect communities, businesses, infrastructure and our economy? How are going to take responsibility for our part of the problem and reduce the Greenhouse Gas emissions contributed by our vehicles, buildings, and businesses?

Some naysayers have scoffed that this is nothing less than a wholesale transformation of our economy, implying that it will destroy our State. While there is no doubt the Climate Plan sets in motion a long-overdue economic transformation, the opportunities presented are enormous. See: transition from horses to cars; pony express to telegraph to telephone; ledger books to computers; and so on.

And the fact is, we have no choice. The world has dug a very deep hole after 150 years of nearly exclusive reliance on fossil fuels, with the United States responsible for more carbon pollution historically than any country. We must stop digging, and that includes Vermont.

The Legislative Climate Solutions Caucus is over 80 members of both House and Senate. Two years ago, the CSC held "roadshows" around the state in preparation for work on the Global Warming Solutions Act. The GWSA passed last fall, and set up the Climate Council and the Climate Action Plan.

Now the Legislature must act to implement the Plan, and the CSC seeks the public's thoughts. (The Council is collecting written comments as well: https://climatechange.vermont.gov/, under "Get Involved." The full Plan and other documents are under "Resources.")

These are the first steps of a very long road. There are many needs to balance: spreading the benefits and the costs of transformation equitably; maintaining and improving our existing carbon sinks in farms and forests; preserving and enhancing natural habitats; rebuilding our infrastructure; balancing increased reliance on electricity with stability and cost of supply and the grid. We are fortunate, if that is the word, that the ravages of the pandemic have provided both the financial resources and the social awareness needed to finally start the journey.

Successfully negotiating the energy transition will require all our ingenuity and cooperation. Please join the discussion on Dec. 15.