§ 42-6.2-1. Climate change coordinating council — Creation — Members. There is hereby established within the executive branch of state government a Rhode Island executive climate change coordinating council (the “council”) comprised of officials from state agencies with responsibility and oversight relating to assessing, integrating, and coordinating climate change efforts. The council shall include, but […]
§ 42-6.2-10. Enforcement. (a) The provisions of this chapter may be enforced by means of an action in the superior court seeking either injunctive relief, a declaratory judgment, a writ of mandamus, or any combination thereof, for: (1) Climate plans required by § 42-6.2-2(a)(2); or (2) The greenhouse gas emissions reduction mandate required by § […]
§ 42-6.2-11. Liberal construction. This chapter, being necessary for the welfare of the state and its inhabitants, shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate its purposes. History of Section.P.L. 2021, ch. 1, § 3, effective April 10, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 2, § 3, effective April 10, 2021.
§ 42-6.2-12. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part of this chapter shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, that judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of the chapter but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part directly […]
§ 42-6.2-2. Purpose of the council. (a) The council shall have the following duties: (1) Assess, integrate, and coordinate climate change efforts throughout state agencies to reduce emissions, strengthen the resilience of communities and infrastructure, and prepare for the effects on climate change, including, but not limited to, coordinating vulnerability assessments throughout state government; (2)(i) […]
§ 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, […]
§ 42-6.2-4. Advisory board established — Members. (a) The Rhode Island executive climate change coordinating council advisory board is hereby established. The advisory board shall have fourteen (14) members. Six (6) members shall be appointed by the governor, four (4) of whom shall be representatives of city or town government, at least one of whom […]
§ 42-6.2-5. Science and technical advisory board established — Members. (a) The Rhode Island executive climate change council science and technical advisory board is hereby established. The science and technical advisory board shall have nine (9) members, appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. Four (4) members shall be from […]
§ 42-6.2-6. Open government requirements. The council and advisory board shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 46 of title 42 (the open meetings act) and chapter 2 of title 38 (the access to public records act). Any rules and regulations, or any amendments to rules and regulations, to carry out the requirements of […]
§ 42-6.2-7. Reporting. No later than May 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, the council shall issue a report of its findings, recommendations, and progress on achieving the purposes and requirements of this chapter. History of Section.P.L. 2014, ch. 343, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 392, § 1; P.L. 2021, ch. 1, § 2, effective April […]
§ 42-6.2-8. Powers and duties of state agencies — Exercise of existing authority. Addressing the impacts on climate change shall be deemed to be within the powers, duties, and obligations of all state departments, agencies, commissions, councils, and instrumentalities, including quasi-public agencies, and each shall exercise among its purposes in the exercise of its existing […]
§ 42-6.2-9. Statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction mandate. Mandatory targets for emissions reduction: It is hereby established that the state shall reduce its statewide greenhouse gas emissions to the targets set forth in § 42-6.2-2(a)(2)(i), as those targets may from time to time be revised, and that achieving those targets shall be mandatory under the […]
