State Agency Coordination to Address Climate Change

The Rhode Island Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4) was established to coordinate efforts between state agencies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The EC4 will pursue GHG emissions reductions of 10% below 1990 levels by 2020, 45% below 1990 levels by 2035, and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. State agencies must assist EC4 to develop programs to encourage state employees to reduce vehicle miles traveled and use public transportation when available. The Council will also work with municipalities to encourage sustainability; identify federal, state, and private funding opportunities that can be leveraged to reduce emissions in Rhode Island; and develop GHG emissions reduction strategies. The Council submitted a plan in December 2016 with suggested strategies for GHG emissions reduction activities to the governor. The EC4 and the State Chief Resiliency Officer submitted a statewide Action Plan to Stand Up to Climate Change and to the governor in July 2018.

(Reference Rhode Island General Laws 42-6.2 and Executive Order(PDF) 17-10, 2017)