Title 42
State Affairs and Government

Chapter 6.2
2021 Act on Climate

§ 42-6.2-3. Support for the council.

To support the council’s work, state agencies shall:

(1) Assist the council in implementing the provisions of this chapter;

(2) Develop short- and long-term greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies and track the progress of these strategies;

(3) Lead by example and, to the maximum extent feasible, purchase alternative fuel, hybrid, and electric vehicles that produce lower total emissions of greenhouse gases and develop programs to encourage state employees to reduce their vehicle miles and use sustainable transportation alternatives, including public transit systems;

(4) Implement programs to achieve energy savings in state and municipal buildings to reduce greenhouse gases, reduce expenditures on energy, and stimulate economic and job development;

(5) Increase the deployment of in-state generation of renewable energy and energy efficiency;

(6) Support efforts to expand Rhode Island’s green economy and develop green infrastructure;

(7) Assess the vulnerability of infrastructure and natural systems, including, but not limited to, roads, bridges, dams, and wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities, and riverine and coastal habitats, to impacts on climate change and implement strategies to relocate or protect and adapt these assets;

(8) Work with relevant academic institutions and federal agencies to assess the threats of sea level rise, erosion, and storm surge, and communicate these assessments and threats, along with potential tools to address them, to state agencies and affected communities;

(9) Develop plans, policies, and solutions based on the latest science to ensure the state continues to have a vibrant coastal economy, including protection of critical infrastructure, and a vibrant and resilient food system that can provide affordable access to healthy food for all Rhode Islanders;

(10) Address recommendations to reduce health impacts associated with climate change and protect the populations most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and at risk of pollution, displacement, energy burden, and cost;

(11) Encourage municipalities to incorporate climate change adaptation into local hazard mitigation plans and, when feasible, into hazard mitigation projects;

(12) Take affirmative steps to eliminate and avoid duplication of effort through consistent coordination between agencies and programs, and pooling of resources, so as to make the most cost-efficient use of the state resources and provide the most effective services; and

(13) Foster public transparency by developing public metrics and an online public dashboard that shall track both emissions reductions and sources of energy consumed by the state. The metrics and the dashboard shall be updated at least annually.