Panel: Harness higher ed on climate change
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By Louis Porter Vermont Press Bureau - Published: October 17, 2007
MONTPELIER – A report expected as early as Thursday from the climate change commission established by Gov. James Douglas will call on policy makers to make the state's colleges and universities the center of that effort, according to a draft of the document.
The Vermont Governor's Climate Change Commission was created by Douglas in December of 2005 to chart a course for the state as it attempts to address climate change issues. The group's final report, originally scheduled for completion by early October, is expected to be released soon, perhaps as early as the group's next meeting on Thursday.
Businessman and real-estate powerhouse Ernest Pomerleau, the chairman of the commission, said Tuesday the six member group has yet to finalize its report or vote on the recommendations in it.
But the group's approach has been to consider how to create "a much more holistic, in-depth approach to the issue that I hope will begin to create a model, a signature and a change in thinking," he said.
The continuing effort may be centered at the University of Vermont and other higher education institutions in the state and a new inter-departmental effort in state government.
The work of the commission is based on recommendations and suggestions from a large and diverse "plenary group" of lawmakers, scientists, business people and others.
A draft of the report indicates the commission is focusing on establishing a relationship between the state and the colleges and universities in Vermont – particularly the University of Vermont – that would encourage the educational institutions to redouble their efforts in the area. Investing in education, research and technology transfer efforts around global warming will help develop businesses in the state that specialize in energy efficiency and other lines of work that combat global warming, according to the report and officials.
In addition the state should continue to strengthen its focus on "demand-side management" or the more efficient use of energy, both in electrical power and other fuels, according to the draft of the new report.
The state must also keep farmland and forests in their existing uses, in order to "sequester" or separate carbon from the air, the draft report says. Increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide are thought to be one of the most important contributing factors to climate change or heating of the earth, and trees and other plants could play an important role in keeping such carbon out of circulation.
In addition, more must be done to fur-ther the use of public transportation and ride-sharing in Vermont, according to the draft. Cars and trucks are thought to be responsible for roughly half the global warming pollution caused in the state.
Finally, the state must also do more to educate Vermonters about the risks of climate change so they can alter behaviors which contribute to the problem, according to the draft.
Jason Gibbs, a spokesman for Douglas, said the administration would not comment on the report until it is completed and voted on. The commission's recommendations and its work is very important, however, he said.
"Gov. Douglas is looking forward to reviewing the commission's report and he is very grateful for the time, energy and expertise that has been devoted to producing it," he said.
Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin, D-Windham, said Pomerleau has done an exceptional job leading the group. Shumlin had not seen the draft report, but he said all the ideas the commission has developed and any other ideas should be considered and acted on as soon as possible.
"Some things we have heard before, some are new and all of them we must do," Shumlin said. "If we keep moving at our current pace our future is going to be unspeakably horrid."
Shumlin came into the last Legislative session calling global warming among the most pressing long-term challenges facing the state. In part that is because so much of the state's economy depends on things like foliage season and winter snow sports that may be harmed by climate change.
Douglas last session proposed a series of initiatives to not only reduce global warming pollution but try and foster the development of businesses in Vermont that could benefit from increasing worldwide attention on global warming.
But Douglas and Democratic lawmakers, especially Shumlin, ended up at loggerheads over the question of whether to impose a tax on Vermont Yankee nuclear plant to pay for a new heating fuels efficiency program. Opponents said such a tax was arbitrary and unfair – particularly since nuclear power creates far less carbon dioxide than many other sources of electricity.
The issue will almost certainly return to the front burner next Legislative session – likely fueled in part by the commission's findings.
Douglas and lawmakers should try and reach reasonable compromises on where the state should go, Shumlin said.
"We should all join hands and do more of it faster," he said. For instance he supports the idea that the University of Vermont and the state colleges offer degrees in climate change science and technology.
Last year's energy bill had some good things in it, but was dead on arrival "because of politics, not because of substance," Pomerleau said.
He hopes that the commission's suggestions, when they become final, will help change the approach to the problem and define a Vermont specific way of dealing with it.
"I think we are on to a few things," Pomerleau said. "We will hopefully move forward on Thursday."
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