City council adopts resolution to make Providence ‘first Climate Jobs City’

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Providence City Council adopted a resolution Thursday that it said would establish the city as “America’s First Climate Jobs City.”

The council said that it is committed to “enacting bold climate policy goals” and that the resolution will guide its future decision making.

Some of the policies it is committed to include investing in carbon-neutral and climate-friendly infrastructure, decarbonizing and retrofitting buildings to eliminate emissions and create healthy environments by 2050, and “facilitating the switch to a 100 percent clean energy supply by 2033.”

The council also wants to implement environmental awareness education programs into schools, increase equitable neighborhood access to green infrastructure, and work to include businesses, residents, and community groups into the transition process.

“Climate change is an existential crisis, and as we work toward a more resilient future for our residents, that has to include ensuring that the green economy is powered by good jobs with family sustaining wages,” Councilor Sue AnderBois said.