The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) is kicking off its new Climate Change Economy Initiative with the Summit on Creating Prosperity and Opportunity Confronting Climate Change on February 18 at VermontTechnicalCollege in Randolph. The summit will serve as a founding point for the Vermont Climate Change Economy Council (VCCEC). This group is charged with a one year mission to develop a structured plan with practical actions that will reduce carbon emissions and stimulate green economic development in Vermont.

The summit will bring together scientists, innovative business, non-profit, and community leaders, elected officials, public policy advocates, students, and interested residents. As a joint body, they will consider the impacts of climate change on Vermont and propose ways to advance the prosperity of the state while addressing them. The Summit will focus on how the emerging opportunities will allow us to build a national reputation, create jobs, and attract young people to our rural communities.

Over 400 are expected to participate in the day which features a climate science “fishbowl” looking at how climate change will affect Vermont’s future, a panel asking current businesses how they are responding to climate change, and 13 working group discussions including:

• Promoting a Vision for Transportation
• Supporting Smart Growth, Reuse, Preservation, & Downtown Redevelopment
• Developing Ubiquitous Distributed Energy
• Innovating for Renewal, Recycling and Resource Limits
• Strengthening Farm & Forest Carbon Sequestration and Profitability
• Seeding a Vermont Climate Investment Strategy
• Adapting Outdoor Recreation & Tourism

Registration, summit agenda, speakers, and topics can be found through VCRD’s home page at vtrural.org or call Margaret at 802 223-6091.

The ideas and priorities of conference participants will be starting points for the Vermont Climate Change Economy Council. The group, composed of leaders in business, economic development, the environmental movement and scientific community, will serve as a non-partisan center point for the development of a pro-active public policy around this central issue.