With federal support rapidly shrinking and emissions targets slipping out of reach, Vermont unveils its 2025 Climate Action Plan to fight climate change, protect communities, and rebuild momentum in a shifting political landscape.
BURLINGTON, Vt. As the federal government under President Trump continues to dismantle critical climate programs and clean energy subsidies, the state of Vermont has stepped forward with the release of its 2025 Climate Action Plan a sweeping strategy to combat rising emissions, increase resiliency, and protect vulnerable communities across the state.
The plan is part of Vermont’s legal obligation under the Global Warming Solutions Act (2020), which mandates that a revised framework be published every four years to guide the state in meeting binding emission reduction milestones. These include cutting emissions 26% below 2005 levels by 2025, 40% below 1990 levels by 2030, and 80% by 2050.
However, Vermont is already behind on its first goal.
Although the state initially claimed to have met its 2025 emissions target, a report from the Energy Action Network contradicted that assessment, revealing that Vermont may fall short by up to 39%. Final emissions data won’t be available until 2027, but the findings have raised alarms among environmental advocates and policymakers alike.
Adding pressure, federal climate programs that have long supported small states like Vermont are now being slashed. The Trump administration’s sweeping budget overhaul, nicknamed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” proposes eliminating clean energy tax incentives, cutting EV and heat pump rebates, and halting investments in wind, solar, and green hydrogen. It even suggested taxing renewable projects that rely on imports from countries like China though that clause was later removed.
This funding rollback leaves states like Vermont scrambling to find alternative resources to implement their climate goals
Despite these obstacles, Vermont’s Climate Council made up of 23 members voted to approve the new plan. It outlines clear action steps for reducing emissions in the state’s two largest polluting sectors: transportation and home heating.
Key goals include:
- Weatherizing an additional 79,000 homes
- Investing in clean, affordable transportation
- Supporting low- and middle-income households in switching to non-polluting heat sources
- Building a climate-ready workforce
- Enhancing farmland carbon sequestration
- Strengthening community flood resilience and disaster preparedness
Over 1,000 Vermonters participated in shaping the plan through meetings and public comments, signaling strong grassroots support. Yet, turning plans into progress remains a major hurdle.
Despite broad participation, the plan has faced criticism from both political leaders and environmental watchdogs. The Conservation Law Foundation, which previously sued the state for failing to meet emissions goals, dismissed the new plan as “toothless.”
While most members of the Climate Council backed the plan, five votes came from Governor Scott’s administration and opposed it, citing affordability concerns. Even Julie Moore, Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources and a “yes” vote, voiced unease about how the plan would be executed.
“There are real concerns about how we’ll operationalize this vision,” Moore stated. “It’s still open to interpretation, and maintaining our current momentum is far from guaranteed.”
Past policies like the clean heat standard, which would have required fuel companies to offer cleaner heating options, were abandoned due to lobbying pressure and financial concerns. Governor Scott rejected the plan, calling it too expensive, despite analysis showing that maintaining the fossil-fuel status quo costs Vermonters over $2 billion per year.
Vermont’s urgency is underscored by the increasing climate impacts already visible across the state. Catastrophic flooding in 2023 and 2024, driven by heavier rainfall and warming temperatures, damaged homes, roads, and businesses across river valleys. The state is also facing more high heat days, wildfire smoke, and air quality issues, according to the plan.
Yet even as these dangers mount, the federal government has pulled vital tools from public view. Just before Vermont released the Climate Action Plan, the FEMA disaster tool used to track extreme events was removed, and Climate.gov was taken offline. Scientists working on the Sixth National Climate Assessment were told to stop their work. Now, much of the data used by states for long-term planning is gone or buried.
Despite federal headwinds, Vermont is committed to staying the course. The next Climate Action Plan is set for 2029, with the planning process starting in 2028. Meanwhile, advocates like Jared Duval are pushing for renewed focus on the “polluter-pays” principle, where fossil fuel importers not working families bear the cost of climate damages and resiliency investments.
The 2025 plan also recommends that the state explore cap-and-invest programs, which could raise funds while providing rebates directly to residents, especially lower-income households. These alternatives may offer more equitable and sustainable solutions as Vermont navigates the road ahead.
“We must remember, the cost of doing nothing is already far too high,” said Jared Duval. “We can’t afford inaction when Vermonters are spending billions on fossil fuels and facing the consequences of a warming climate.”
The 2025 Climate Action Plan may not solve Vermont’s climate crisis overnight, but it represents a critical pivot toward resilience, equity, and bold leadership especially in an era of federal retreat. Whether the plan becomes a turning point or a missed opportunity will depend on political will, public engagement, and the fight for funding in the years to come.
