Climate change legislation in Rhode Island

There has been a lot of media attention recently (positive and negative) surrounding climate change, especially with President Obama's recent announcement calling for a reduction in carbon emissions from fossil-fuel based power plants.  While I can empathize with the feeling of hopelessness around the issue, I strongly believe that, regardless of one's political beliefs or their feelings about environmentalism in general, taking measures to reduce the effects of climate change (BOTH mitigation and adaptation) only improve overall quality of life.  There are political leaders, as I have witnessed in the Rhode Island general assembly, who still do not believe climate change exists or is a problem.  The science is well established and objective.  We need not waste our time having a debate over the issue, as Obama expressed in his recent interview with Thomas Friedman.  Moreover, climate change is not an extreme political belief that should be classified as propaganda similar to that of religious fanatics.  This a real life issue with real, tangible consequences.  There are plenty of people who say progressive politics are rattled with emotion, or fail to produce measures that actually accomplish results.  While that may be true to an extent, keeping one's focus on strict economic convenience simply does not make the world a statistically better place to live in.  Environmental justice, social equality, and sound city planning all tie into the solution to making the world a more livable and likable place.  "Externalities" of pollution and rising sea levels should be a concern to any business owner or investor.  They live in the same world as everyone else.  I would argue that strong environmental policies are not necessarily "progressive politics", but are conservative in nature.  The health effects of poor environmental policies, including the documented effects of hydraulic fracturing, are far more costly than the cost of preventing those effects.  With all the resources and power this country has, America has an obligation to act on this issue.  That is why I will always support strong environmental laws, and respect others who take the issue seriously and feel a similar level of urgency and passion.  Thus, the State of Rhode Island should support the passage of HB 7904 giving state agencies the express authority to address climate change, and urge their respective representatives to support it as well.  Especially if its citizens care not only about helping businesses thrive and stay in Rhode Island, but improving and maintaining basic quality of life in the state.