Business Group Honors VT Legislators for Climate Action Work

Local legislators named ‘Climate Champions’

Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) has honored two dozen Vermont House legislators, including Michael Yantachka, as “Climate Champions’” for their efforts to grow the economy and create green jobs by putting a price on carbon pollution.

In accepting the award, Rep. Yantachka said, “Climate change is the most significant global environmental threat the human race has faced in its history. It is caused by human consumption of fossil fuels, which have pumped extraordinary amounts of CO2 and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere since the beginning of the industrial revolution. We have to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels for the sake of future generations. Today’s fuel prices do not reflect the inherent environmental and health costs. Pricing carbon realistically will reduce demand for fossil fuels and at the same time help us transition to cleaner renewable energy sources and create good jobs.”

VBSR Public Policy Manager Daniel Barlow said that President Trump’s decision this year to exit the Paris Climate Agreement sparked serious concerns in the business community and has spurred renewed attention to the important issue of fighting climate change. “We thought it was important to recognize these forward-looking Vermont legislators who support putting a price on carbon pollution.”

VBSR presented the awards December 6 at the organization’s annual Legislative Breakfast in Burlington.