The Environment Council of Rhode Island (ECRI) and Climate Jobs Rhode Island held a gubernatorial forum on climate Tuesday night at Rhode Island College. The event was emceed by Boston Globe reporter Ed Fitzpatrick, who asked the attending six candidates for governor a total of ten questions. The six candidates attending were incumbent Governor Daniel McKee, Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, former Secretary of State Matt Brown, Dr. Luis Daniel Muñoz, former CVS Executive Helena Buonanno Foulkes, and Republican candidate Ashley Kalus.

Following the typical Uprise RI format, the question is written out as asked by the moderator, followed by video of each respondent’s answer.

We begin by having each candidate tell us what they consider to be the biggest environmental threat facing Rhode Island right now and what, specifically, you’re going to do about it if you’re going to be Governor for the next four years. In other words, what’s you priority?

Matt Brown:

Helena Buonanno Foulkes:

Ashley Kalus:

Dr. Luis Daniel Muñoz:

Governor Daniel McKee:

Nellie Gorbea:

In recent years Rhode Island has made major commitments to combat climate change, with the 2021 Act on Climate and this year’s 100% renewable electricity legislation, but we still have a long way to go to meet these ambitious goals. Transportation is the largest source of emissions in the state, so do you think Rhode Island should join California, Massachusetts and New York in setting a date to phase out the sale of gas powered cars? If so, should the date be 2030, 2035, or some other year?

Governor Daniel McKee:

Helena Buonanno Foulkes:

Nellie Gorbea:

Ashley Kalus:

Dr. Luis Daniel Muñoz:

Matt Brown:

In Rhode Island and many other states access to clean water and clean air and open spaces is not distributed equally. Low-income neighborhoods and communities of color are more likely to suffer from poor air quality, more likely to have lead pipes in their homes, and less likely to have access to parks, beaches and open spaces. This year Senator Dawn Euer and Representative Karen Alzate introduced the Environmental Justice Act which would create environmental justice focus areas where permitting decisions would have to take into account the cumulative impact of pollution in certain neighborhoods, such as the Port of Providence. The Senate passed it, the House did not. Would you back it?

Nellie Gorbea:

Dr. Luis Daniel Muñoz:

Governor Daniel McKee:

Ashley Kalus:

Matt Brown:

Helena Buonanno Foulkes:

Last Fall I interviewed a Central Falls resident named Guadalupe Martinez who immigrated from Mexico 14 years ago. She said that three of her four children had been poisoned by lead. Last year, during the pandemic, the number of children poisoned by lead for the first time rose 22% and the total was highest among children in Rhode Island’s most poor cities, Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence and Woonsocket, while no cases were reported in many Rhode Island rural and suburban towns. As Governor, what specific steps would you take to keep families safe from lead poisoning?

Dr. Luis Daniel Muñoz:

Helena Buonanno Foulkes:

Matt Brown:

Governor Daniel McKee:

Nellie Gorbea:

Ashley Kalus:

Plastic pollution is a growing problem in Rhode Island’s waterways and in Narragansett Bay. Meanwhile, thousands of tons of plastic waste are buried in the central landfill each year, shortening its life. In rent years the General Assembly has considered proposals such as the statewide bottle bill, a producer responsibility program for packaging and a bill involving a high heat process known as pyrolysis. What policies would you support as Governor to reduce plastic pollution in the environment and specifically, do you want to see pyrolysis facilities in Rhode Island?

Ashley Kalus:

Dr. Luis Daniel Muñoz:

Nellie Gorbea:

Governor Daniel McKee:

Helena Buonanno Foulkes:

Matt Brown:

Rhode Island has 400 miles of shoreline and the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) is responsible for important matters of shore access, aquaculture and wind power. If you are Governor for the next four years, what changes, if any, would you make to the CRMC?

Helena Buonanno Foulkes:

Governor Daniel McKee:

Ashley Kalus:

Nellie Gorbea:

Matt Brown:

Dr. Luis Daniel Muñoz:

A few days ago 36 transportation focus groups wrote to all of you saying Rhode Island can and must join forward looking states in widening out mobility choices rather than our highways. For example, the letter criticized the Department of Transportation for planning to widen five miles of I-295 using $85 million in federal money that was supposed to help reduce emissions. And the letter called for fully funding the state match for the bicycle mobility plan. As Governor, would you want to change the Department of Transportation’s priorities for Rhode Island’s transportation? If so, how?

Nellie Gorbea:

Ashley Kalus:

Governor Daniel McKee:

Dr. Luis Daniel Muñoz:

Matt Brown:

Helena Buonanno Foulkes:

The development of solar power in Rhode Island will be a key part of meeting our climate goals but many solar farms in the state are built at the expense of existing forest and farmland. What will you do as Governor to ensure that solar is developed on previously disturbed areas and on rooftops?

Dr. Luis Daniel Muñoz:

Governor Daniel McKee:

Helena Buonanno Foulkes:

Nellie Gorbea:

Ashley Kalus:

Matt Brown:

What more would you do as Governor to regulate the class of toxic forever chemicals known as PFAS? And you get extra credit if you tell me what PFAS stands for. [per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances]

Matt Brown:

Dr. Luis Daniel Muñoz:

Helena Buonanno Foulkes:

Ashley Kalus:

Governor Daniel McKee:

Nellie Gorbea:

If you could call anyone in the world right now for environmental advice, who would it be and why?

Matt Brown:

Governor Daniel McKee:

Ashley Kalus:

Nellie Gorbea:

Dr. Luis Daniel Muñoz:

Helena Buonanno Foulkes: