05-R 143
2005 -- S 0299
Enacted 03/29/05
S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
PROMOTING
GOALS TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING POLLUTION
Introduced
By: Senators Sosnowski, Perry, Paiva-Weed, Lenihan, and Sheehan
Date
Introduced: February 09, 2005
WHEREAS,
The Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers
adopted
region wide goals to reduce emissions that cause global warming in 2001; and
WHEREAS,
In 2001 the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers set a
short
term goal of reducing global warming pollution to 1990 levels by 2010, a medium
term goal
of
reducing global warming pollution to 10% below 1990 levels by 2020 and a long
term goal to
reduce
global warming pollution to a level that eliminates any serious threat to the
economy,
public
health or environment; and
WHEREAS,
The Rhode Island Greenhouse Gas Stakeholders Project has brought
together
many different individuals and organizations representing government, industry,
environmental
and consumer groups and developed the Rhode Island Greenhouse Gas Action
Plan
to help meet these regional goals; and
WHEREAS,
Bold steps are being taken across New England and Eastern Canada to
address
global warming and to achieve the pollution reduction goals; and
WHEREAS,
The science on global warming and climate change demonstrates that
human
activity is contributing to the warming of the earth's atmosphere; and
WHEREAS,
Global warming is a threat to the climate, economy and environment of the
State
of Rhode Island; and
WHEREAS,
Rhode Island has 400 miles of densely populated coastline that is threatened
by
rising sea levels, beach erosion, and more extreme weather patterns; and
WHEREAS,
The leading cause of global warming is the burning of fossil fuels for
energy
and transportation; and
WHEREAS,
Efforts have been made by this Senate to increase the use of renewable
energy
in Rhode Island through passage of the Clean Energy Act of 2004; and
WHEREAS,
Improving energy efficiency programs, continuing to promote renewable
energy,
and controlling global warming from cars will move Rhode Island closer to its
emission
reduction
goals; and
WHEREAS,
Efforts have been made to mitigate negative social, economic and
environmental
impacts of climate change, and to assess these impacts to identify adaptive
mechanisms
that are feasible and cost-effective; and
WHEREAS,
State and provincial governments are committed to lead by example in
implementing
climate change and greenhouse gas reduction programs; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
recognizes
the vital role it must play in order to successfully address the issue of
global warming
pollution
here in Rhode Island; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That this Senate is fully supportive of the Rhode Island Greenhouse Gas
Action
Plan put forth by the Rhode Island Greenhouse Gas Stakeholders Project as an
effective
means
to reduce instate greenhouse gas emissions; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That this Senate strongly encourages Rhode Island's participation in he
Regional
Greenhouse Gas Initiative to advocate for a strong rule that will effectively
reduce
global
warming pollution from the region's electricity sector; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That this Senate supports the continuing work of the Conference of New
England
Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers to develop mechanisms that promote
cleaner
and
more efficient vehicles, identify opportunities related to bio-fuels and
explore models of land
use
and development that could lead to the design of potential incentives and
performance-based
practices
to encourage a reduction in vehicle miles traveled; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That this Senate supports the Conference of New England Governors and
Eastern
Canadian Premiers efforts to promote climate change proposals on LED traffic
lights,
partnerships
with colleges and universities within the region on emission reductions
programs,
purchasing
high efficiency-low emission office equipment, and using clean, energy
efficient
vehicles
in state/provincial fleets; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That this Senate is committed to achieving the short, medium and long
term
goals set by the New England Governor's and Eastern Canadian Premier's Climate
Change
Action
Plan to reduce the threat of global warming to our economy, public health and
environment;
and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit
a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Conference of New England
Governors and
Eastern
Canadian Premiers.
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LC01259
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