RI 8th in the Country for Reducing Carbon Emissions

RI 8th in the Country for Reducing Carbon Emissions

Rhode Island ranks eighth among the 50 states for using transportation dollars to reduce carbon emissions, according to a national survey by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Smart Growth America.

California, New Jersey, and Maryland earned the top three spots, respectively, and Connecticut, Washington, Oregon, and Massachusetts also finished ahead of the Ocean State.

With 61 points (compared to California's 82), Rhode Island falls in the second tier for alignment between transportation policy and climate change goals. It scored highest of all 50 states for investment decisions, but significantly lower for infrastructure policies. According the report, all second tier states "must do more to get on the right track."

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Transportation is the second-largest and second-fastest growing source of carbon pollution in the U.S. (after electricity generation). The report found that by making smarter decisions with state funds, each state could implement transportation policies that would save money and create jobs while reducing carbon emissions. Current transportation policies in almost every state either fail to curb emission rates or actually increase them, the report says.

"If states considered all their transportation policy options, they could tap into tremendous potential to reduce carbon emissions, even with limited resources,” said Colin Peppard, deputy director of Federal Transportation Policy at NRDC.

The report calls for changes in both federal and state policy to encourage more efficient use of transportation money. A summary of the report can be viewed by clicking here.