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Businesses for Climate Action Lobby Day Thursday, February 1
Over the last year, Vermonters were put on notice that climate change is upon us. We saw catastrophic flooding in July, polluted air due to wildfires, and a late December storm that brought more damage.
And it wasn't just 2023: Since 2011, every county in Vermont has experienced a federally declared emergency.
Now is the time, more than ever, to come together to mitigate future damage and to strengthen our climate resiliency muscles. If you want to make a difference, bringing your voice to the State House is one of the most impactful things you can do.
Participants in the 2023 Businesses for Climate Action Lobby Day celebrate a productive day outside the State House in Montpelier. (photo by Ben M. Collins)
VBSR, Champion Members Seventh Generation and SunCommon, and VPIRG will host the annual Businesses for Climate Action Lobby Day at the Vermont Statehouse on Thursday, February 1 in Montpelier.
The day will include a morning press conference, coordinated meetings with legislators, climate-focused professional development, and a Networking Meetup.
Plan now to attend and bring colleagues with you! Many Vermonters are craving ways to get involved on this issue and the 1:00 to 6:00 portion of the day is a perfect opportunity for anyone to plug in.
Leading VBSR members address the media to kick off the 2023 Businesses for Climate Action Lobby Day outside the State House in Montpelier. (photo by Ben M. Collins)
2024 Businesses for Climate Action Lobby Day When: Thursday, February 1, 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. | Issue briefing and advocacy training
11:00 - 11:30 a.m. | Press conference
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Coordinated meetings with legislators
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Climate-focused professional development
4:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Networking Meetup at Three Penny Taproom
Location: Various locations around the State House in Montpelier Cost: FREE and open to the public
Whether you want to join for some or all of the day – or if your organization is interested in donating food, transportation, or funds to support the Businesses for Climate Action Lobby Day, please click on the link below to get engaged.
Gold Member UVM is embarking on ways to measure the sustainability of Vermont's maple syrup industry. (Image courtesy of Howard Weiss-Tisman/Vermont Public)
UVM: As Vermont’s maple syrup industry has moved toward larger, commercial operations, Gold Member UVM wants to know if all of the plastic tubing and gas-fired boilers that have become ubiquitous across the state are contributing to global climate change. So, the UVM Proctor Maple Research Center is working with the UVM Food Systems Research Center to come up with ways to measure the sustainability of the maple syrup industry. Learn more here.
UVM Medical Center: Health Care Without Harm, an international organization focused on environmental reform, sustainability, and equity in health care, recently named Gold Member UVM Medical Center as the recipient of its 2023 Health Care Climate Challenge Gold Award for Climate Resilience. The annual awards are given based on environmental-impact-related data collected in partnership with Practice Greenhealth, and this year included more than 200 organizations from 18 countries. Learn more here.
Ben & Jerry's: Employees of Champion Member Ben & Jerry’s flagship plant in Waterbury recently chose to unionize. More than 60% of the plant’s ice cream producers and processors had signed cards seeking to join the union. Ben & Jerry’s says it looks forward to working “in the spirit of mutual respect and collaboration” as the process progresses and “in keeping with Ben & Jerry’s commitment to being a values-led organization with a progressive social mission, we respect our employees’ decision.” Learn more here.
Vermont Green FC: Vermont Green Football Club was recently named “organization of the year” out of all 122 teams in its league. In a press release, the USL League Two pointed to Vermont Green’s 10-3-1 in-league record this recent season, as well as its “commitment to reducing carbon emissions” and overarching goal of becoming a net-zero organization as reasons for the honor. Learn more here.
Truex Cullins: Champion Member TruexCullins has announced that Matthew Bushey, AIA, LEED AP has advanced to the role of Managing Principal of the firm as of January 1, 2024. He succeeds David Epstein, AIA, (and VBSR Board Member) who has served as Managing Principal for the past 11 years. Bushey brings values-led experience to the role as he leads sustainability efforts at TruexCullins, including tracking the firm’s progress toward the net-zero energy goals of the AIA 2030 Commitment. Learn more here.
CATMA: Bird, which brought bikeshare back to the Greater Burlington area in late June has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The nonprofit Chittenden Area Transportation Management Association (CATMA), which entered into an agreement with Bird to provide electric-assist bikes in June, has reiterated its commitment to bikeshare as "an essential transportation option in Chittenden County…we are proud to be a success story for Bird in 2023 (and) remain committed to our partnership with Bird and fully expect bikeshare to pick back up once winter weather subsides." Learn more here.
BCBS: To meet the increasing need for improved access to mental health and substance use disorder services, Gold Member Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont has announced the removal of prior authorization requirements for mental health and substance use disorder treatment for in-state, in-network facilities. This prior authorization change is now in place for treatment programs across various levels of care, including inpatient, residential, partial hospital, and intensive outpatient programs. This move aligns with Blue Cross VT’s goal to improve Vermonters' access to mental health services. Learn more here.
Are you a member with values-led news to share?
Has your organization accomplished something recently that is part of creating a just, thriving, and transformative economy that works for all people and the planet?
If so, we want to hear about it! Members are encouraged to post valued-led news at https://vbsr.org/post-news or share it directly with VBSR Communications Manager, Talley Summerlin, at talleys@vbsr.org.
Take Action for Climate and Clean Energy:
Make Big Oil Pay
The hard-working people at VPIRG, VNRC, and VCV are championing an important project that VBSR supports in partnership: Make Big Oil Pay.
As Climate and Clean Energy is one of our 2024 Legislative Priorities, we are helping drive and promote the efforts of this campaign. While it is a priority for us, we all have a role to play in making sure it is also a priority for our legislators.
Please take a moment tocontact your Vermont legislators and ask that they co-sponsor the new “Climate Change Superfund Act” – similar to the federal hazardous waste Superfund program.
Want a deeper understanding of the program? The Make Big Oil Pay coalition recently hosted a webinar featuring VNRC, VPIRG, CLF, Rep. Mike Rice, and Rep. Esme Cole – the webinar recording is a great primer on the campaign and policy.
Make Big Oil Pay can't keep up the momentum without your help.Please contact your legislatorsand ask them to co-sponsor this essential legislation.
