Student lobbyists rally for climate change

Author: Tamara Hilmes

Though most of the events sponsored by PowerShift Vermont occurred on campus earlier in the weekend, the environmental conference culminated events that linked the climate change movement on campus to efforts for change in the greater community of Vermont. On April 20, Vermont Speaker of the House Gaye Symington was featured in the closing address, and on Monday, a group of Middlebury students and community members traveled to Montpelier to lobby for climate legislation.

On Sunday, during the closing address of the PowerShift Vermont 2008 line-up, Symington was featured along with the Luce Professor of Environmental Economics Jon Isham and Middlebury alumnus Will Bates in discussing the climate change movement in Vermont. Isham kicked off the lecture by giving his eight points, each addressing a specific aspect of the movement. His first point was that calling the movement a "climate change movement" is actually inaccurate.

"It's a misnomer," Isham said. "This is not a global warming movement - it's about something bigger. It can't be about all good things, but it is about fighting hard on the behalf of Earth, social justice and people born in certain places that are currently being threatened."

Isham continued by addressing the impact of technology on the movement, declaring that we need to "embrace the technology" because that will be what "gets us there." Before Isham handing over the floor to Symington, he closed by blatantly stating to the future climate change activists in the audience the difficulties involved in inciting change.

"This movement can get you good grades and good jobs," he said, "but it can be discouraging."

Symington began her part of the lecture in agreement with Isham, stating that she finds it "frustrating that we are where we are." She continued by informing her audience made up of students from the College and high school as well as townspeople that "change is hard, change is scary. Change involves reaching outside ourselves."

One issue related to the movement that Symington stressed was the need for improved communication. According to Symington, the language being used by climate change activists is hindering the movement.

"I think our language is getting in the way," Symington said. "How we talk about change matters - we should be explaining things through images and stories."

Symington went on to explain that it is highly important that Vermonters understand that climate change is, in fact, a Vermont issue.

"Oftentimes, it is a real stretch for Vermonters," said Symington. "They need to understand that it will result in lower bills and more jobs." She went on to talk about how weatherizing houses, while it will cost money, will essentially save Vermont citizens money on heating bills as well as create more job opportunities in the state.

Symington brought her talk to a close by lauding a group of seventh grade lobbyists who recently presented their research on bus emissions to legislators and wishing the group of Middlebury lobbyists luck in their endeavors to take place on the following day.

On Monday, at 10 a.m., a group of 10 Middlebury students and five students from Mt. Abraham High School in Bristol, Montpelier High School and the Lake Champlain Waldorf School arrived in Montpelier prepared to lobby in favor of Senate Bill 350 (S.350). Coincidentally, 350 is also the safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, as measured in parts per million. This bill would make efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

"Although we were there to express our support for S.350 and urge legislators to make it stronger before they pass it," said Kate MacFarlane '10, one of the Middlebury students who participated in the lobbying, "our main objective was to let lawmakers know that their constituents want meaningful action climate legislation next year. S.350 does some good things, but it is more of a baby step than anything else."

Through the day, the students talked with James Moore of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group and Johanna Miller of Vermont Natural Resources Council, as well as Representative Tony Klein, Representative David Ainsworth, Representative Rachel Weston, Senator Dick McCormack and Senate President pro-tempore Peter Shumlin. Each meeting was about 45 minutes long, and during their free time, the group wrote letters to other legislators to let them know why they had come.

"It was an amazing experience," said MacFarlane. "Many people don't realize how accessible the Vermont legislature is. We had the opportunity to have some really candid talks with the people who are actually making Vermont's laws."