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5/15/2025
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Senate passes Zurier bill to monitor progress toward Act on Climate goals
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STATE HOUSE — The Senate today approved a resolution sponsored by Sen. Samuel D. Zurier to create a legislative commission to monitor the successful implementation of the Act on Climate.
“The Act on Climate is designed to make Rhode Island carbon-neutral by 2050, but it is by necessity a framework that leaves the details to be filled in later. During our hearings with state agencies, I learned that some of them are uncertain about their path to meet these goals, relying upon models that may be incomplete and/or overoptimistic. The Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4) expects to present its strategic plan at the end of this year. This Senate study commission aims to ensure that we implement the Act successfully. It will meet with the EC4 and with stakeholders to better understand the science and the policy in order to carry out effective oversight, as well as propose any necessary legislation,” said Senator Zurier (D-Dist. 3, Providence).
The 2021 Act on Climate is one of the most influential environmental bills approved by the General Assembly in decades. It mandates that Rhode Island incrementally reduce climate emissions to net-zero by 2050, setting a series of emissions-reduction benchmarks that the state must achieve in order to reach that goal, with the first coming in 2030. These goals are enforceable by civil action against the state if it fails to reach these mandates.
The resolution (2025-S 0023) creates a five-member commission to monitor the successful implementation of the Act on Climate and provide recommendations to the General Assembly concerning any necessary legislation or oversight. The members will all be members of the Senate, with no more than four of the five members from the same political party. Senate President Valarie J. Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence) will appoint the members, and may choose to appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator.
The commission will report its findings and results to the General Assembly by May 1, 2026.
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
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