How can Providence’s contribution to climate change be reduced?
  • The earth’s average temperature in 1998 was the highest on record.
  • 1998 was the 20th consecutive year that the Earth’s surface was warmer than the average from 1961 through 1990.
  • Seven of the warmest years on record have occurred since 1990 and the other three have occurred since 1983.

 

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – scientists representing 116 countries – have concluded that burning of coal, oil and gas and cutting forests is likely to change the world’s climate by increasing the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that are in the atmosphere. An increase in global temperature is expected to lead to extreme weather conditions – more droughts and more severe storms – and a rise in sea level.

The amount of greenhouse gases released in Rhode Island increased by 35% between 1990 and 1996.

 

An international agreement called Kyoto Protocol is under review by the U.S. government. Under its terms, by 2012, greenhouse gas emissions would need to be reduced by seven percent. If Rhode Island is to do its part in meeting this goal, emissions here will need to be reduced more than 40% from 1996 levels (the most recent year for which data are available).

Providence has begun greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts by joining the Federal Department of Energy's Clean Cities initiative, which will encourage the use of alternative-fueled vehicles – particularly for trucks and buses. RIPTA’s new downtown Providence trolleys are fueled by natural gas. Planting trees (see Urban Forests) helps cool the city in the summer and reduces air conditioning demand. Reducing transportation congestion (see Transportation) will lower greenhouse gas emissions from cars.

Options for significant reductions in emissions for Rhode Island are listed at: http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Environmental_Studies/courses/es192/greenhouse.html

A comprehensive list of information on all aspects of climate change: http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/links.html

Rhode Island State Energy Office – One Captiol Hill, Providence, RI 02908, 222-3370

Cities for Climate Protection Campaign of the International Council on Local Environmental Initiatives - http://www.iclei.org/us/US_ccp.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This pie chart shows a breakdown of the sources of carbon dioxide by sector.