Voices of the Environment (VOTE) is a grassroots group of South Burlington residents concerned about the world that we are leaving to future generations. VOTE’s mission is to advocate for policies, actions and candidates that will help mitigate climate change and protect the environment.
The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on climate change warns that
The cumulative scientific evidence is unequivocal: Climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health. Any further delay in concerted anticipatory global action on adaptation and mitigation will miss a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all.
Mitigating climate change requires rapid actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including increasing the supply of renewable energy flowing into our electric grid, ensuring new buildings do not use fossil fuels, electrifying existing buildings and transitioning away from fossil fuel-enabled transportation.
It also requires conservation of South Burlington’s remaining meadows, forests, grasslands, farmlands and wetlands. These lands sequester carbon, provide a buffer against flooding and intense weather worsening every year, filter pollutants before they can enter Lake Champlain, clean and cool our air, provide vital habitat for pollinators, insects, nesting birds and other wildlife and are common areas for everyone, no matter who they are, or where they come from, to enjoy regardless of their income or experience. But, despite the climate crisis, development pressure in South Burlington remains relentless with over 1450 new homes at some stage of approval in South Burlington, and the potential for 800 additional homes sprawling across these natural resource lands under the newly adopted land development regulations.
Hand-in-hand with conservation is Smart Growth, which recognizes the need to re-develop and to create walkable, bikeable and affordable housing for ownership, and especially apartments for renters, near public transportation, schools, and other municipal services in the core of our City that make living for those on modest incomes truly affordable.
If you want to help mitigate climate change and protect South Burlington’s air, water, wildlife, biodiversity and natural resource lands, please <!-- donate and --> join us: