A new House commission to study the impacts of climate change and solutions to mitigate them has been appointed and is scheduled for its first meeting on Tuesday.
The Legislative Study Commission on Climate Change Impacts and Solutions will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at 2 p.m. in Room 101 on the first floor of the State House.
The meeting includes the election of a chairperson, introduction of commission members, discussion of the commission’s enabling legislation, and suggestions for future presentations.
Capitol Television will broadcast the meeting on Cox Communications, channels 15 and 61 for high definition; i3 Broadband (formerly Full Channel) on channel 15; and Verizon on channel 34. Live streaming is available at https://www.rilegislature.gov/CapTV/Pages/default.aspx.
Created by a resolution (2024-H 7731A) sponsored by Rep. Terri Cortvriend (D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown), the commission is to study the numerous impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels and their effects on coastal communities and the economic impacts of those effects. The commission is to examine potential adaptations the state could adopt to mitigate those impacts, such as beach nourishment projects, shoreline hardening and green infrastructure improvements and managed retreat.
Members of the commission include Representative Cortvriend; Rep. Tina L. Spears (D-Dist. 36, Charlestown, New Shoreham, South Kingstown, Westerly); House Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale (R-Dist. 40, Foster, Glocester, Coventry); Department of Environmental Management Chief Resiliency Officer Kimberly Korioth; Division of Statewide Planning Associate Director Meredith Brady; Pam Rubinoff, associate coastal manager, coastal resilience at the University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center; Institute at Brown for Environment and Society Director Kim Cobb; Rhode Island Society of Environmental Professionals Secretary Rowan Hayes; URI Coastal Institute Director Dr. Elin Torell; Coastal Resources Management Council Policy Analyst Leah Feldman; Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank Executive Director William J. Fazioli; League of Cities and Towns Executive Director Ernest Almonte; Environmental Business Council of New England Chapter Chair Rick J. Mandile; Rhode Island Realtors Association Advocacy Manager Trevor Chasse; Rhode Island Builders Association Chief Executive Officer John V. Marcantonio; Rhode Island Rivers Council Director Alicia Schaffner; and Warwick Tax Assessor Neal Dupuis.
