Ben & Jerry’s officially endorsed the Energy Independent Vermont campaign today, as part of the company’s Save Our Swirled international climate tour kick-off.
Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield joined CEO Jostein Solheim and Vermont Public Interest Research Group Executive Director Paul Burns to make the announcement outside of the Ben & Jerry’s store in Burlington.
Solheim told the assembled supporters, media and curious onlookers that acting on climate change was urgent and that Ben & Jerry’s was committed to working for change not just across the nation and across the globe – but right here in Vermont.
Burns explained the purpose of the Energy Independent Vermont campaign, which aims to make Vermont the first state in the country to put a price on carbon pollution and use that revenue to cut taxes and help Vermonters move away from fossil fuels.
Greenfield spoke last, telling those in attendance that he hoped the Save Our Swirled tour would galvanize climate activists across the globe to take action. He then encouraged everyone to join him by signing the Energy Independent Vermont petition. Ultimately, Greenfield said, he wanted to show people that reducing dependency on fossil fuels and working to combat climate change “doesn’t have to be a drag.”
Greenfield then unveiled a brand-new emissions-free Tesla ice-cream mobile – which will be touring the country, doling out ice cream and educating people about climate change.
For more information about the Save Our Swirled campaign check out Ben & Jerry’s website.
And if you haven’t already – sign the Energy Independent Vermont petition and tell Vermont lawmakers to put a price on carbon pollution.