Pell Center Lecture – Adapting to a Changing Climate: Policy Choices Facing Rhode Island

How will climate change affect Rhode Island – particularly its coastlines – and how should the State be preparing for these changes? A recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that impacts worldwide will be significant, and creates the opportunity for a timely discussion of this critical issue and its implications for our state.

To be clear, this public forum is not intended to debate basic scientific questions such as whether global warming is occurring or whether it is caused by human actions. The scientific consensus around these issues is robust.  Rather, the focus of this forum will be on the policy responses the state should consider. Should we incentivize lower-carbon fuels? Protect vulnerable coastal areas and structures? Create insurance programs that protect property owners from weather damage? When should such policies take effect and what would they cost?

To address such questions, a panel of speakers will participate in a 90-minute discussion moderated by Pell Center Senior Fellow Joseph Grady, who will contribute perspectives on public dialog about the issue. Audience members will be encouraged to contribute questions and opinions.

Panel members for the event are:

Wenley Ferguson, Director of Habitat Restoration, Save the Bay (Narragansett Bay)

Grover Fugate, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, a unit of the state government

Pam Rubinoff, University of Rhode Island’s Coastal Resources Center, leader of the Climate Change and the Coast program

Date:   Thursday, January 30, 2014

Time:   7:00 p.m.

Place:

Bazarsky Lecture Hall – O’Hare Academic Center

Salve Regina University

Ochre Point Avenue (intersection of Shepard Avenue)

Newport, RI

RSVP to [email protected] or 401-341-2927