Climate change poses a major threat to Vermont’s birds. According to Audubon Vermont’s Executive Director, David Mears, “if we care about birds, we have to care about climate.” The scientists who authored National Audubon Society’s Survival by Degrees: 389 Bird Species on the brink, released last October, found that “[t]wo-thirds of America’s birds are threatened with extinction from climate change.” As we continue to increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, our planet is rapidly warming with significant impacts to the ecosystem on which our birds depend. Despite setting a goal of 50% reduction below1990 levels by 2028, Vermont’s emissions remain 13% above 1990 levels, according to a recent report by the Energy Action Network. Clearly, we have more work to do if we want to shift the current trend.

Climate change is the defining issue of our time and our actions today will define the future for Vermont’s birds and its people. Our youth are appropriate in demanding climate action from our leaders. Together with a number of youth leaders, Audubon Vermont has joined in support of a platform of climate related policy proposals that we have presented to the Vermont legislature.

In response, the Vermont General Assembly has taken on a number of important policy initiatives including the following:

• Vermont Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) bill (H. 688) Originally introduced in the 2019 legislative session but substantially reworked over the summer, this bill aims to put Vermont on a path to meeting the Paris Climate Agreement emissions reduction targets by 2025 and a net-zero carbon emission by 2050. The Vermont House passed this bill on February 21, 2020 and it is now headed to the Senate.

• 100% Renewable Electricity Standard bill (S. 267) This was introduced to amend Vermont’s renewable energy standard by increasing renewable electricity to 100% by 2030. Switching to renewable electricity would reduce fossil fuel use by replacing fossil-fueled vehicles and create more climate resilient communities. This bill is being discussed in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy.

• Modernization of energy efficiency utilities bill (S.337) This would broaden the focus of our efficiency utilities beyond merely reducing electricity use to reducing climate pollution. Currently, this bill is being discussed in Senate Finance Committee.

• Transportation and Climate initiative also known as TCI bill (H. 461) This represents a regional effort of 12 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states to reduce emissions in the transportation sector through a “cap and invest” program. Similar to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which sets a cap on carbon pollution in the electric sector, the goal of the TCI partner states is to develop a program for investment in a cleaner transportation system in an efficient and equitable manner. The TCI bill was introduced in the House Committee on Energy and Technology on February 27.

The legislators in the Climate Solutions Caucus need your support to help advance these bills. Climate change is impacting our birds today. “Birds are important indicator species, because if an ecosystem is broken for birds, it is or soon will be for people too,” said Brooke Bateman, Ph.D., the senior climate scientist for the National Audubon Society. Birds are clearly telling us it is time to act. Please contact your representatives now and ask that they support these important bills to address the climate crisis.

For a complete list of Vermont House Representatives, please click here: https://legislature.vermont.gov/people/all/2020/House