Global Warming In the News

Small state, big effort

Go big, little Rhody targets global warming

Taking on a huge problem — say, global warming — is often a daunting task. As it happens, Rhode Island is particularly vulnerable, because of Narragansett Bay and the state’s large amount of coastline. I

nto this void comes Go Big, Little Rhody, Environment Rhode Island’s effort to cut the state’s global warming emissions 80 percent by 2050.

Since we are on the frontlines of the problem, the group says, we should also be a leader in seeking solutions. Environment Rhode Island is calling on citizens to e-mail Governor Carcieri, expressing their support for efforts to cut global warming pollution at least 20 percent by 2020 and more than double that by 2050.

The effort began with a November 4 rally at Roger Williams Park Zoo.

Rhode Island has made some strides on the global warming front, adopting the California Level II Clean Car Standard (slated to start in 2008), for example, and stipulating that 16 percent of the state’s electricity come from renewable sources by 2020.

After initially supporting and then withdrawing his backing, Carcieri backed the state’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which is meant to cut carbon dioxide emissions from electrical power plants in the northeast by 10 percent by 2019.

More, of course, remains to be done. And public support can be a big factor in determining the response of our elected officials.