Official State of Rhode Island website

State of Rhode Island Climate Change

Resilient Rhody

Cover image of the full draft plan

Rhode Island Statewide Coastal Resilience Plan

As our communities face increasing risks from sea level rise, extreme weather, and other impacts of climate change, the state is developing “Resilient Rhody 2025,” its Statewide Coastal Resilience Plan. This plan will guide how we adapt and respond to these growing challenges.  As part of the development, community members, local organizations, and partners from across the state joined community forums and provided input that directly shaped the plan. 

We are pleased to introduce the draft Resilient Rhody 2025, a critical step forward in strengthening Rhode Island’s ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The draft documents are available below for public review and comment. Please take a look and let us know your feedback using our public feedback form. 

Submit Feedback on the Draft Plan

Background on RI's First Comprehensive Climate Preparedness Strategy

In 2018, Rhode Island produced its first comprehensive climate preparedness strategy, Resilient Rhody. Resilient Rhody outlined the climate impacts facing our state and identified 61 key resilience actions across areas such as Critical Infrastructure & Utilities, Natural Systems, Emergency Preparedness, Community Health & Resilience, and Financing Climate Resilience Projects. These actions aim to protect our infrastructure and our natural resources, strengthen our economy, preserve the health of our environment, and keep Rhode Islanders safe. The development of the plan, which was informed by ten statewide roundtable discussions, strengthened collaboration between state agencies, municipalities, and communities across Rhode Island.

Since then, state agencies, municipalities, and partners have collaborated to implement innovative programs, funding mechanisms, and technical assistance. From green infrastructure projects to health equity initiatives and emergency preparedness improvements, our communities are better protected today than they were when Resilient Rhody began. These initiatives are documented in the Resilient Rhody 2021 Three-Year Impact Report and in the Resilient Rhody 2024 State of Resilience Report