Reducing climate emissions is essential to protecting Vermont’s communities, economy, and natural landscapes from the growing impacts of flooding, heat, and extreme weather. Act 181 helps cut emissions by directing new housing and development into compact, walkable areas with existing infrastructure, reducing the need for long car trips and energy-intensive sprawl. By aligning land use with climate goals, the law supports more efficient transportation patterns and lowers the overall carbon footprint of growth.

Read more in our interview with David Mears, environmental attorney and former Executive Director of Audubon Vermont, here.