Requires the executive climate change coordinating council to evaluate and make recommendations for the use of carbon emissions removal technology as an alternative to reducing carbon emissions and meeting climate goals.
Impact
The legislation emphasizes an integrated and coordinated response among state agencies to confront the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change. This is significant because it aims to bolster Rhode Island's resilience against climate impacts, which include severe weather, rising sea levels, and threats to public health. By involving a range of stakeholders, including municipalities and local institutions, the bill aims to create a collaborative framework that can effectively mobilize resources and strategies for emissions reduction and climate adaptation.
Summary
Bill S0399 proposes amendments to the 2021 Act on Climate, specifically requiring the Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council to evaluate and recommend the use of carbon emissions removal technology. This initiative is aimed at supporting the state's objectives to meet greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals set for the upcoming decades, including targets of 10% by 2020, 45% by 2030, 80% by 2040, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The recommendations are expected to contribute to a comprehensive approach in mitigating climate change while enhancing the state’s sustainability efforts.
Contention
One notable point of contention surrounding S0399 may focus on the balance between implementing state-led climate actions and ensuring equitable practices that consider vulnerable populations. The bill mandates an equitable transition to climate compliance, aiming to address past environmental and public health inequities while creating sustainable job opportunities within clean energy sectors. The effectiveness and execution of these provisions will be critical in determining the bill's overall acceptance and success, as local communities may have varying perspectives on climate policies and their implications.
Requires executive climate change coordinating council (EC4) to develop a template to be used by all agencies of the state to track their climate emissions to uphold the pathway to Rhode Island's act on climate legislative goals.
Requires executive climate change coordinating council (EC4) to develop a template to be used by all agencies of the state to track their climate emissions to uphold the pathway to Rhode Island's act on climate legislative goals.
JOINT RESOLUTION RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE EXECUTIVE CLIMATE CHANGE COORDINATING COUNCIL (EC4) TO PREPARE A REPORT ON BENCHMARKING AND BUILDING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Adds climate change, sea-level rise and coastal resiliency to the analysis of data of the strategic plan for economic development policy. Adds director of DEM and executive director of CRMC to economic development planning council.
Requires the chief resilience officer (CRO) be charged with creation/maintenance/updating of the state's resiliency/recovery program along with climate change resiliency plan with ocean/riverine coasts resilience advisory board.
Requires as part of the solar permit application an assessment on carbon-neutral, a solar permit would only be approved if it was carbon neutral based on the assessment.
Makes several amendments relative to the affordable clean energy security act establishing the act's priority over chapter 6.2 of title 42 (the "2021 act on climate").