How Green are We?

(page 5 of 11)

GREENHOUSE GASES

In early February, a United Nations report, representing scientists from hundreds of countries, confirmed what environmentalists have been saying for years: global warming is real, and it is mostly likely caused by humans. As the threat of warming due to man-made pollution has heightened, so has our state’s response. In 2002, the Rhode Island Greenhouse Gas Action Plan (RIGGAP) was created. And in January, Governor Carcieri became the last New England governor to sign the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Both aim to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next two decades. What will happen if we don’t turn back the clock? The same U.N. report predicted that global warming will cause sea levels to rise six to twenty-three inches by 2100, a change that would undoubtedly transform our state.

Global Warming 101

How it works: Naturally occurring gases create a “blanket” over the earth that traps heat from the sun in the atmosphere, making earth livable. Eighty to 90 percent of this “greenhouse effect” on earth is due to water vapor. Another natural greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide. For the past 150 years, man-made gases, like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxides, released from fossil-fuel burning, have enhanced the effect, combining with the natural gases to make a “thicker” blanket. The result: Global warming, a planet-wide rise in temperatures scientists warn will eventually cause warmer, wetter weather (and associated health risks), rising sea levels, stronger storms and less snow.

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Gassing Down

To establish greenhouse emissions goals for Rhode Island, Boston-based Tellus Institute was hired to crunch the numbers. The institute considered regional energy use, vehicle and factory emissions, demographic figures and climate predictions to estimate what our future emissions would be if unchecked, and how much they would be reduced once certain policies were put in place.

The state has already taken actions that will reduce emissions by 3.55 million tons by 2010 (see how below). But this is not enough to meet the RIGGAP goal of lowering emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.

STATE ACTIONS TO REDUCE EMISSIONS
(results reflected in blue line on graph):
1. Require cars sold here to meet California’s low emission standards by 2009.
REDUCTION BY 2010: 17,200 tons*
BY 2020: 175,500 tons

2.  Require local electric utilities to increase retail electricity sales from renewable sources, starting with 3 percent in 2007 to 16 percent in 2019.
REDUCTION BY 2010: 40,000 tons
BY 2020: 172,000 tons

3. Subsidize residential, commercial and industrial purchases of energy-efficient electrical equipment.
REDUCTION BY 2010: 53,500 tons
BY 2020: 118,700 tons

4. Subsidize commercial and residential purchases of energy-efficient natural gas-fired furnaces and turbines.
REDUCTION BY 2010: 38,300 tons
BY 2020: 114,100 tons

5. Require that certain appliances—from air conditioners to commercial freezers—meet federal lowenergy use standards.
REDUCTION BY 2010: 9,200 tons
BY 2020: 41,100 tons

*emissions measurements are in metric tons of carbon equivalent
SOURCE: OFFICE OF STRATEGIC PLANNING AND POLICY, RIDEM