150 Vermont students gather in Montpelier to urge action on climate change

April Barton
Burlington Free Press

Around 150 Vermont students from middle school through college gathered at the statehouse in Montpelier on Sunday to encourage lawmakers to take immediate action on climate change. 

The Vermont Youth Climate Congress had representatives from more than 30 Vermont schools in attendance. The goal was to draft and pass a declaration of freedom from fossil fuels and a resolution to address the climate crisis.

Rep. Marybeth Redmond, D-Essex, said on Facebook that the students created their own "Young Vermonters United Climate Declaration."

Following in the footsteps of youth climate activist Greta Thunberg, "Young people are the least responsible for the climate crisis, but we are the ones who will inherit the dire consequences of climate inaction," said Lili Platt, a Harwood Union High School senior, in a statement.

State Sen. Chris Pearson, P/D-Chittenden, praised the students and said he was "so impressed by these leaders." He posted photos on Instagram including one with students sharing their agenda in an agriculture sub-committee meeting.

Some of the schools in attendance were People's Academy in Morrisville, Harwood Union High School in Duxbury, Stowe High School, Bellows Free Academy in Fairfax, St. Michael's College, the University of Vermont, Main Street Middle School in Montpelier and Lyman C. Hunt Middle School in Burlington. 

Contact April Barton, abarton@freepressmedia.com or 802-338-0642.