Alliance Challenges Burlington Climate Change

Author: Meghan Michelson

"Did you know that the average Vermont driver puts 7.5 tons of greenhouse gas emissions in the air each year?" read an alarming sign posted prominently at a booth at the Alliance for Climate Action's 10% Challenge in Burlington on Monday.

The event was a public announcement and celebration of a new action program designed to encourage households and businesses in Burlington to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10 percent.

In addition to providing information on more energy efficient modes of transportation, the Alliance offered visitors specific and practical ways to reduce climate change on a local level.

Held at the Waterfront train station, the event included speeches by Lieutenant Governor Doug Racine, Deputy Regional Administrator for the New England Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ira Leighton, Department of Energy spokesperson S.J. Seymour and staff speakers for senators James Jeffords and Patrick Leahy.

Following the speeches was a brief, humorous satire by the Underground Railway Theater. The skit featured a dinosaur character who suggested ways to slow down global warming by warning against the use of sport utility vehicles, which he claimed contribute one third of all vehicle carbon dioxide emissions.

Visitors were then allowed to take a short train ride on the Chittenden County Transportation Authority's latest service, the Champlain Flyer, which provides clean and sustainable commuter service for residents of Chittenden County.

Those in attendance were also treated to a scoop of Ben & Jerry's new ice cream flavor, "One Sweet Whirled," which is part of a joint campaign with the Dave Matthews Band and SaveOurEnvironment.org to curtail global warming.

With climate change posing an ever-increasing threat to the global environment, the city of Burlington's 10% Challenge represented a crucial step toward reversing the effects of global warming. Scientific estimates claim that the earth's temperature has increased by one degree Fahrenheit over the last 100 years.

According to the EPA atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has risen by 30 percent since the industrial revolution.

These numbers have the potential to cause detrimental changes on a worldwide and local level.

The EPA cites that even a one degree temperature increase could affect agriculture, weather and water resources and increase disease throughout the world. In Vermont, climate change could endanger the state's economy by diminishing the production of maple syrup and shortening the leaf peeping and ski seasons, as well as altering natural processes and environmental habitats.

To combat these negative consequences, the City Council of Burlington devised a Climate Action Plan in May 2000 and formed the Alliance for Climate Action, made up of state officials and various other groups, including the University of Vermont and Fletcher Allen Health Care. Its mission was to reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions over the next decade.

"The Alliance is made up of a variety of groups and businesses that want to make a difference," explained Paul Bortz, president of the Board of Trustees for Sprit in Nature.

In his speech, Leighton commended the city of Burlington for its environmental initiative. "Burlington was one of the first cities in the United States to support the EPA and I offer congratulations to the city for its involvement in these efforts," he stated.

The Alliance for Climate Action presented the 10% Challenge on Monday as a voluntary program for local homeowners and businesses to sign up to follow specific guidelines for reducing personal greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 10 percent.

Suggestions to accomplish this include reducing waste, turning off electrical appliances when not in use, using fluorescent light bulbs, turning down thermostats, driving fuel efficient vehicles and driving less.

Middlebury College student Asher Burns-Burg '05.5 played an active role in the production and presentation of the 10% Challenge.

As an employee of the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, which is a member of the Alliance, Burns-Burg helped to construct the Alliance's program, goals and Web site since he became involved last September.

"We went from just having a plan to create some sort of public outreach program to what happened here today and launching what I see as a pretty fantastic program," said Burns-Burg.

Although the 10% Challenge specifically addressed Burlington residents, there is a plan to extend the action program elsewhere. "We're focused on Burlington, but we would love to expand this statewide. We have a lot of communities contacting us for assistance," said Mary Sullivan, a spokesperson for Burlington Electric Department, a group member of the Alliance.

The College is one such place that hopes to create its own plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A Carbon Neutral Committee recently was formed with the goal of reaching zero net emissions in Middlebury by eliminating all extraneous carbon dioxide emissions and creating offset of any required emissions.

College Sustainable Campus Coordinator Connie Bisson leads the committee. She cited Burlington's 10% Challenge as an example of what can be accomplished in Middlebury.

"We can use the Burlington model in Middlebury, just on a smaller scale, because we certainly don't have the same number of residential homes," said Bisson.