2025 Businesses for Climate Action Day
VBSR members are invited to meet with key Vermont policymakers during our annual lobby day addressing the impacts of climate change on Vermont’s businesses and economy.
How Climate Change Affects Vermont Businesses
Warming temperatures, more precipitation, and the frequency of extreme weather events are impacting businesses of every size across our state and industries [1], making reducing climate change-causing emissions and increasing climate resilience top concerns of VBSR members.
Why Your Voice is Needed Now
After the consecutive 2023 and 2024 summer floods, it’s clear that Vermont’s businesses and communities need urgent action from the State supporting climate adaptation and resilience. It’s also crucial for policymakers to hear from business leaders about the importance of protecting the integrity of Vermont’s Global Warming Solutions Act, and doing our part to reduce the global impacts of climate change.
Actions You Can Take
VBSR offers a few ways to show your support for climate action and resilience:
1) Participate in VBSR’s Businesses for Climate Action Day on Tuesday, March 11.
- Join fellow business leaders in small group meetings with House and Senate leadership, including Senate Pro Tempore Baruth, Speaker Krowinski, and the leaders of the House and Senate environmental committees.
- No experience necessary; receive support from VBSR’s advocacy team before, during, and after the event, including the optional training below.
- We encourage sending a representative of your business who can speak on behalf of your organization and bring their influence to our conversations.
- Limited to 20 VBSR members; If interest exceeds capacity, members will be selected to participate in order to represent the diversity of VBSR’s membership in meetings with policymakers.
- Meetings and preparation will run from 10 AM – 2 PM at the Vermont State House and environs. All are welcome to join for a late lunch (on your own), networking, and celebration at Three Penny Taproom from 2-4 PM.
- Register here at your earliest convenience and by Wednesday, March 5th
2) Participate in a virtual Business Advocacy Training focused on Climate Action.
- All VBSR members are welcome to participate in a 101-level training for businesses seeking to develop advocacy skills and an understanding of current climate legislation and updates to Vermont’s Climate Action Plan.
- Participants in the Businesses for Climate Action Day are encouraged to participate in this training to ensure thoughtful conversation and a positive experience in the Statehouse on March 11th.
- Training will be held on Wednesday, February 26th from 3:00 – 4:00 PM.
- A recording of the training will be available for viewing afterward.
- Register here at your earliest convenience.
3) Contact Johanna de Graffenreid, VBSR Public Policy Manager, to plan your own custom action.
The Businesses for Climate Action Day was made possible with support from Norwich Solar!
Our team of experts specializes in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of solar projects from 500kW to 5 MW. The work we do directly benefits New England towns, businesses, affordable housing providers, and nonprofits. We have a deep understanding of the local regulatory environment, and our trusted relationships with utilities, agencies, and reliable subcontractors enable us to deliver projects on time and on budget. We take pride in being a reliable partner in building solar projects for our valued clients.
Questions?
Please make note of any accommodation requests when you register.
Questions? If so, please contact to Johanna de Graffenreid, Public Policy Manager, at johannad@vbsr.org for details.
[1] https://www.uvm.edu/news/gund/... (2021)