2017 -- S 0108 AS AMENDED

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RESILIENT RHODE ISLAND

ACT OF 2014 - CLIMATE CHANGE COORDINATING COUNCIL

     

     Introduced By: Senators Conley, Sosnowski, Nesselbush, Crowley, and Coyne

     Date Introduced: February 01, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 42-6.2-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-6.2 entitled "Resilient

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Rhode Island Act of 2014-Climate Change Coordinating " is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-6.2-2. Purpose of the council.

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     (a) The council shall have the following duties:

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     (1) Assess, integrate, and coordinate climate change efforts throughout state agencies to

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reduce emissions, strengthen the resilience of communities, and prepare for the effects of climate

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change, including, but not limited to, coordinating vulnerability assessments throughout state

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government;

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     (2)(i) No later than December 31, 2016 December 31, 2017, submit to the governor and

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general assembly a plan that includes strategies, programs, and actions to meet targets for

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greenhouse gas emissions reductions as follows:

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     (i)(A) Ten percent (10%) below 1990 levels by 2020;

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     (ii)(B) Forty-five percent (45%) below 1990 levels by 2035;

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     (iii)(C) Eighty percent (80%) below 1990 levels by 2050;

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     (iv)(D) The plan shall also include procedures and metrics for periodic measurement, not

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less frequently than once every five (5) years, of progress necessary to meet these targets and for

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evaluating the possibility of meeting higher targets through cost-effective measures.

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     (ii) The plan shall specifically study the effectiveness of the state and/or multi-state

 

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carbon pricing program to incentivize institutions and industry to reduce carbon emissions. The

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study shall include the effectiveness of allocating revenues generated from such carbon pricing

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program to fund enhanced incentives to institutions and industry for targeted efficiency measures;

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projected emissions reductions; economic impact to businesses; any economic benefits to Rhode

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Island and impacts to the state's economic competitiveness if the program were implemented.

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     (3) Advance the state's understanding of the effects of climate change including, but not

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limited to, sea level rise, coastal and shoreline changes, severe weather events, critical

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infrastructure vulnerability, and ecosystem, economic, and health impacts, including the effects of

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carbon pollution on children's health;

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     (4) Identify strategies to prepare for these effects and communicate them to Rhode

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Islanders, including strategies that incentivize businesses, institutions and industry to adapt to

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climate change;

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     (5) Work with municipalities to support the development of sustainable and resilient

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communities;

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     (6) Identify and leverage federal, state, and private funding opportunities for emission

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reduction and climate change preparedness and adaption work in Rhode Island;

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     (7) Advise the governor, the general assembly, and the public on ways to ensure that

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Rhode Island continues to be a national leader in developing and implementing strategies that

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effectively address the challenges of climate change;

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     (8) Work with other New England states to explore areas of mutual interest to achieve

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common goals; and

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     (9) Identify and facilitate opportunities to educate the public about climate change and

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efforts throughout state agencies and municipalities to address climate change.

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     (b) The council is encouraged to utilize the expertise of Rhode Island universities and

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colleges in carrying out the duties described in subsection (a) of this section, specifically to

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ensure that the state's efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change are based on the best

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available scientific and technical information, and to optimize the contribution by the universities

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and colleges of their expertise and experience in research, analysis, modeling, mapping,

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applications to on-the-ground situations, technical assistance, community outreach, and public

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education.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RESILIENT RHODE ISLAND

ACT OF 2014 - CLIMATE CHANGE COORDINATING COUNCIL

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     This act would direct the climate change coordinating council to study a carbon pricing

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program, to incentivize institutions and industry to reduce carbon emissions and would make

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several other additions to the council's responsibilities.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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