The 10% Challenge: Are You Ready to Accept?

By Chris Miller and Christopher Bartlett

The public discussion about climate change has been going on so long that many of us have tuned it out. How real is the threat? What are "safe" emission levels? Who should take responsibility? What is the most appropriate response? So many questions, so little action.

But as the recent Copenhagen Climate Conference clearly demonstrated, the politicians do not have the resolve to lead us out of the environmental crisis facing the world today. So, as has happened so often before, ordinary citizens have become tired of waiting, and have begun to take action at a local level.

Over a decade ago, here in Vermont, a group of citizens convinced the Burlington City Council to commit to a major reduction in their community's contributions to global warming. The results were immediate and impressive. In the program's first nine years, Burlington's growth in greenhouse gas emissions slowed from an annual rate of 3.4% to just 1.4%.

Based on this success, Burlington's Alliance for Climate Action committed to rolling out to other communities the "10% Challenge" that was at the core of its program. And here in Woodstock, Sustainable Woodstock's Energy Action Group has undertaken to engage our community in this voluntary program with the goal of enrolling households, businesses, and other community entities to reduce their greenhouse emissions by 10% by 2012.

The initiative will be formally introduced through an article in the Warnings for both the upcoming Town and Village Meetings. In addition to encouraging all citizens and business owners to commit to the goal, the resolution will propose that the Town and Village also join the 10% Challenge as municipalities. We would like to encourage all residents to attend this year's meetings to discuss and vote on the issue in this much-loved public forum.

But even if you can't attend the Town and Village Meetings, you can still sign up to commit to doing your part in reducing greenhouse gases. Simply go to the 10% Challenge Program website. There, you will be able to calculate your current greenhouse gas emissions, read some of the many suggestions for how you can reduce them, and sign up to commit to reducing your environmental footprint.

Once you have accepted the 10% Challenge and began taking action, Sustainable Woodstock would love to hear from you so we can not only chart our community's progress, but also recognize and reward residents who are making a contribution.

It may not be as dramatic as a post-Copenhagen ratified global agreement could have been, but never underestimate the power of committed and rapidly spreading grassroots initiatives. As Senator Leahy said, "A small state can lead the way in the effort to stop climate change. By taking the 10% Challenge, Vermonters can be part of the solution that will set an example for other states."

So enough of the discussions and debates. Sign up to up be part of the solution! Accept the 10% Challenge, and then contact us!