05-R 249

2005 -- H 5308

Enacted 05/05/05

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

PROMOTING GOALS TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING POLLUTION

Introduced By: Representatives Ginaitt, Handy, Gemma, McNamara, and Anguilla

Date Introduced: February 02, 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 the Rhode Island general assembly 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 the Rhode Island general assembly 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 the Rhode Island general assembly 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 the Rhode Island general assembly 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 the Rhode Island general assembly 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 the Rhode Island general assembly 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 the Rhode Island general assembly 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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LC01114

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