Clean Energy Program News

As the new home of RIPIRG's environmental work, Environment Rhode Island can be contacted regarding this news release.

PROVIDENCE—A “Report Card” released June 14, 2004 by a coalition of environmental advocates in the United States and Canada has given Rhode Island a grade of C- for their actions to reduce global warming pollution in the region.

“Rhode Island’s grade of C- shows that the state has started responding to the threat of global warming by working to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions,” said Kate Canada, Advocate at the Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (RIPIRG), which helped grade Rhode Island for the report card. “However, we are far from being finished and much remains to be done.”

The 2004 Report Card on Climate Change Action was written to gauge the progress of individual states and provinces in meeting the goals of the New England Governor’s / Eastern Canadian Premiers’ Climate Change Action Plan of 2001.

Recognizing the impacts of climate change on the region’s environment, economy and public health, in August of 2001 the Governors of the six New England states and the Premiers of the five eastern Canadian provinces committed the region to reducing regional greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2010, then reducing emissions by at least 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and over the long term reducing regional greenhouse gas emissions by 75-85 percent.

“For the long-term goal of a 75-85 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the region to be met, every state and province – including Rhode Island - must make decisions now that will put them on track to meet that goal,” said Emily Rochon, Climate Campaign Organizer for Clean Water Action.

The Report Card released today highlights those areas in which Rhode Island has made progress since 2001, and those areas in which much more work is needed. The Ocean State has made some progress since 2001, including the development of a state specific Climate Change Action Plan and adoption of the California LEV II emission standards for cars. However, the following areas were listed a those where much more action is needed:

- Increasing the use of renewable energy resources through the adoption of a renewable portfolio standard

- Mandating implementation of the state Climate Change Action Plan

- Providing funding and obtaining leadership from the Governor’s office to allow for further progress to be made toward fulfilling the New England Governors’ agreement

“By taking action on these items, Rhode Island will go along way to meeting the goals set forth in the agreement,” stated Rochon. “In addition, it will help to reduce the threat of climate change in our state.”

The Report Card comes just one month after two states in the region—Connecticut and Massachusetts—finalized comprehensive plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their respective states. High grades in the report card went to Connecticut and Massachusetts in the U.S., and Quebec and Prince Edward Island in Canada. Each received a grade of “B minus.” Low scores in the region went to New Hampshire and Vermont, who each received a grade of “D plus.”

The Rhode Island Report Card is also timely because the 2004 legislative session is coming to a close and some key policies related to climate change are still being debated at the state house, including a bill that would require a Renewable Energy Standard for Rhode Island to increase the amount of renewable energy used by all consumers in the state, and energy efficiency standards for common household appliances.

“Adopting energy efficiency standards and a renewable energy standard for Rhode Island would significantly reduce our emissions of global warming causing pollutants,” stated Canada. “We can join our neighbors in adopting these common sense proposals that would move us more in line with our neighbors, who already have both of these policies.

The New England Governors and eastern Canadian Premiers have plans to review their progress towards the goals of their 2001 Plan every three years, beginning in 2005. The authors of the Report Card hope that their recommendations will be used in evaluating next steps for the states and provinces.

The report is available at www.ripirg.org and www.newenglandclimate.org.

The Rhode Island Climate Coalition represents 40 organizations committed to advocating for policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change. Clean Water Action and Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group coordinate the effort here in Rhode Island. More information is available at http://www.newenglandclimate.org/rhodeisland.htm.