Client: The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the State of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM)
Author: Bryndis Woods, PhD
September 2023
On behalf of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the State of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), Senior Researcher Bryndis Woods, PhD and other AEC staff provided two environmental justice (EJ) and equity-focused training sessions for Rhode Island’s Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4), the EC4 Advisory Board (AB), and the EC4 Science and Technical Advisory Board (STAB).
The presentations included: an equity baseline for Rhode Island, including maps of Rhode Island EJ communities; foundational training on EJ and equity concepts to develop a shared understanding and vocabulary; an EJ and equity framework that provides guidance for EC4, AB and STAB to meaningfully incorporate EJ and equity in their planning and decision-making; Rhode Island-specific equity examples, including equity opportunities and common pitfalls as they relate to economy-wide decarbonization efforts; EJ scenarios for participants to consider and discuss; and recommendations for participants that will help them proactively prioritize equitable outcomes.