For residents of Rhode Island, the effects of a changing climate are no longer a distant forecast. Higher temperatures and more frequent, intense storms have become tangible realities, according to Governor Dan McKee. This personal, community-level impact comes into sharper focus as state environmental officials reported Friday that greenhouse gas emissions rose between 2017 and 2018, threatening the state’s ability to meet its own legal mandates to curb them.
Emissions Rise Jeopardizes 2020 Goal
Total greenhouse gas emissions in Rhode Island grew by nearly 8.2% from 2017 to 2018, driven primarily by increases in the transportation sector and electricity consumption, according to an analysis by air quality specialists at the state Department of Environmental Management (DEM). This increase brought emissions to 1.8% above the 1990 baseline level. The rise jeopardizes the state’s chances of meeting a mandate in its Act on Climate law, which requires a 10% reduction in emissions by 2020. The 2019 emissions data, currently being analyzed, would have to show a significant decrease to meet that goal.
DEM Acting Director Terry Gray said he was not surprised by the increase between 2017 and 2018, noting that nothing significant was being done at the time to cut emissions. Gray suggested that emissions may have continued to increase in 2019 before decreasing in 2020, because people traveled less during the pandemic. The signing of the Act on Climate, he added, created a sense of urgency.
State Leaders Seek Clean Energy Solutions
Democratic Gov. Dan McKee signed the Act on Climate nearly a year ago, setting mandatory, enforceable emissions reduction goals that culminate in net-zero economy-wide emissions by 2050. Net-zero means the number of greenhouse gases produced is no more than the amount removed from the atmosphere. In a statement, McKee called on state agencies to deliver urgent remedies, citing the tangible results of higher temperatures and more frequent, intense storms.
To address the rise, McKee last week proposed procuring an additional 600 megawatts of offshore wind, enough to power about 340,000 homes annually. He stated that he wants offshore wind to supply more of the state’s power, cementing its position as a hub for the industry, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and setting an example for other states looking to stave off the worst effects of a warming planet.
The data shows that Rhode Island emitted approximately 11.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2017 and 12.7 million metric tons in 2018, an 8.18% change. Emissions increased in most major sectors, including transportation, electricity consumption, residential heating, industry, commercial heating, and waste. During the same timeframe, neighboring states Connecticut and Massachusetts reported smaller increases in emissions—2.7% and 0.68%, respectively.
What to Watch Next
All eyes are now on the 2019 emissions data, which is currently being analyzed by DEM air quality specialists. Whether that data will show the significant decrease needed to meet the 2020 mandate remains to be seen, as Acting Director Gray suggested travel reductions during the pandemic could play a role. The state’s push for additional offshore wind capacity and the enforcement of the Act on Climate’s goals will be key developments to watch in the coming months.
