August to head state climate change advisory board

PETER V. AUGUST has been named to the chairmanship of the Executive Climate Change Science and Technical Advisory Board by Gov. Gina M. Raimondo. The University of Rhode Island scholar will lead the group that will help develop state strategies to combat climate change. / COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND/JOE GIBLIN
PETER V. AUGUST has been named to the chairmanship of the Executive Climate Change Science and Technical Advisory Board by Gov. Gina M. Raimondo. The University of Rhode Island scholar will lead the group that will help develop state strategies to combat climate change. / COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND/JOE GIBLIN

PROVIDENCE – A University of Rhode Island professor has been named chairman of the governor’s Executive Climate Change Science and Technical Advisory Board, which provides guidance on issues pertaining to climate change.
Gov. Gina M. Raimondo named Peter V. August, a URI distinguished professor of natural resources science, as the new board chairman on Friday. August, along with eight other board members, were appointed by Raminodo earlier this year and confirmed by the state Senate in June. August is the former director of the university’s Coastal Institute and has worked with the governor’s office and other state and federal agencies throughout his career, according to URI President David M. Dooley.
“He’s an award-winning researcher, and his leadership and expertise will be of great benefit to the statewide climate change advisory board,” Dooley said in a statement.
The advisory board was created as a part of the 2014 Resilient Rhode Island Act during the former Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee administration. The group, under the directive of the R.I. Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council, is tasked with providing guidance to the governor’s office on issues, “such as aligning academic research around the issues of climate resiliency, communicating scientific and technical information to the public, and taking inventory on public- and private-sector work to achieve greater coordination and efficiency,” according to a press release.
Raimondo, in a statement, thanked August for accepting the role as chairman “to help protect our state’s most important resources for generations to come.”
“I believe this group of dedicated professionals will help Rhode Island develop real-world solutions to address the impact climate change has in our state,” she said.
Besides August, the advisory board comprises Todd Bianco, James Boyd, Kelly Knee, Jason Osenkowski, Ronald Pitt, J. Timmons Roberts, Carol Thornber and Henry Walker.
Janet L. Coit, director of R.I. Dept. of Environmental Management, lauded the governor’s decision.
“I cannot say enough about the dedication and level of expertise Dr. August will bring to this board in order to help forge a better, more resilient Rhode Island,” she said.

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