Vermont falls short of climate goals, report shows
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) — A recent state report shows that Vermont is missing the mark on emission reduction requirements. Vermont is required to reduce its emissions by 26% this year, but recent data hints the state is off target and digging a deeper hole for future reduction.
As 2025 crept closer, the Energy Action Network’s Jared Duval kept a close eye on fuel sales data, but the numbers weren’t moving in the direction he hoped.
“It was very clear to us that we were not on track to meet the first legal obligation of the Global Warming Solutions Act,” said Duval.
That’s a law requiring Vermont to decrease emissions by 26% from 2005 levels by 2025. If we don’t, Vermonters can sue the state.
Preliminary projections show Vermont is 1% above the 2025 requirement.
“It was somewhat unexpected,” said Julie Moore of the Agency of Natural Resources.
The state found Vermont’s fossil fuel sales for heating decreased by 4.8% in 2024, but gas and diesel sales increased by 3%. It’s a small change, but it’s not enough.
Moore says she expected to be slightly below the requirement but isn’t disheartened by the miss.
“I would argue that being within 1% of the target on something as large in scale as greenhouse gas emissions is pretty incredible, and tells a compelling story that we took steps, meaningful steps to achieve that goal,” she said.
Some environmental advocates see it differently. Duval says every year we miss the mark is a lost opportunity. It could also make it harder for Vermont to meet its 2030 reduction requirement of 40%.
“If we’re already behind the eight ball, it doesn’t bode well for being able to meet the 2030 obligation without really concerted policy efforts and investments, which we’re just not seeing right now,” said Duval.
While the state pushes EVs and efficient heating amid federal cuts to climate action, Moore backs Gov. Phil Scott’s proposal to scale back emission requirements and remove the lawsuit provision of the Global Warming Solutions Act.
“Litigation creates uncertainty and uncertainty slows progress. And I think it cuts against the important work we need to do to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions,” said Moore.
The state is still finalizing 2024 emission data from sectors like agriculture which could bring us closer to or farther from the 2025 requirement.
Duval estimates it would take a significant 400,000-ton reduction to bring us up to compliance.
“This is not a small difference,” said Duval.
When it comes to lawsuits Moore says she’s most concerned with the consequences of missing the much larger 2030 target.
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