First item is an update to the GHG inventory, showing 2019 emissions (these lag by three years due to EPA data). #RhodeIsland does a pretty good job of presenting graphics for these. Notably, transportation was the largest sector and now is an even larger share, at 39.7%, and transportation emissions are increasing.

Also, if you add residential heating and commercial heating, that's another 28%.

Ergo, the transportation and thermal sectors are critical. /2

We are now to the 2022 update to the state's greenhouse gas emissions reductions plan; the last update was in 2016. The emphasis here is largely on the 2025 plan (which is frankly too late).

EC4 Chair Gray notes that nearly 400 sets of written comments have been received on EC4's climate change plan, and that they have taken this into account.

Notably, they started showing high-level modeling results to show policy impacts - but only last week.
/5

"Transportation stands out as the highest emitter, and that there is a lot of work in that sector." - EC4 Chair Terry Gray

I would say that there is wildly inadequate work in that sector, particularly around vehicle miles traveled reductions. /6

Here are the stated transportation sector goals. Notably, the 10% target is inadequate.

"Alignment of future transportation funding with the Transit Master Plan and the Bike Mobility Master Plan" is notable, as these projects are not in the STIP.

This is also putting a pretty positive spin on the language that it actually in the report. /7

They've been talking for 35 minutes now; there are 37 people on this call, and I'm wondering if they will get around to actually taking public comment from all of those who wish to speak.

Of course, if they wanted public comment, they wouldn't have held this meeting at 1 PM on a Thursday. /8

We're on public comment now; Timmons Roberts of Brown University's climate and development lab is now commenting; notes that the state has not updated its modeling and that we only have seven years to reach the 2030 target.

Hank Webster of Acadia Center notes that the state has been doing well in terms of updating its plans as comments come in. This is true; given that a new version of the plan was introduced *yesterday*. /9

https://climatechange.ri.gov/act-climate/working-draft-workplan

Hank Webster argues that we should implement an all-electric building code and #electrifyeverything. Notes that Massachusetts is already allowing communities to move on this.

Also echoes support for making the Transit Master Plan and Bike Mobility Plan. Notes that the language that this is "not possible" has been removed, but that the language is still vague on funding these plans. Also notes that the state government has the authority to promulgate authority to reduce emissions. /10

Hank also notes that the language by the state that we "can't fund" the Transit Master Plan and the Bike Mobility Plan has been removed in the most recent version.

This was a win by advocates, but we need to be sure that the recalcitrant agencies (RIDOT, Statewide Planning) are still held accountable for implementing these plans.

Providence City Council-elect Sue Anderbois is now commenting.
/11

Notes that transportation is 40% of emissions, and that we have robust plans with the Transit Master Plan and the Bike Mobility Plan, and that we need to implement them now.

Larry Chretien from Green Energy Consumers Alliance is on the call. Describes the 38.4% emissions reductions are "not good enough." Notes that we need a plan to reduce emissions 45% *now*, so that we can implement. "We're running out of time." /12