Bills filed to address climate crisis, promote use of recycled tires

Sen. Ada Álvarez Conde

By The Star Staff

Sen. Ada Álvarez Conde filed a package of legislative measures on Monday to address the economic impact of natural disasters, analyze the current mitigation plan, and demand concrete actions to address the climate crisis in Puerto Rico.

“The island faces tangible and growing threats from climate change: coastal erosion, heat waves, biodiversity loss, and the vulnerability of our agricultural, fishing, and tourism industries,” Álvarez Conde said in a written statement.

The measures introduced include Senate Resolution (SR) 101, which requires the Legislative Assembly Budget Office (OPAL) to assess the economic impact of natural disasters over the past 15 years; Senate Concurrent Resolution 7, which mandates an analysis of the mitigation plan presented by the Experts Committee; and SR 103, so that the plan can be subjected to a macroeconomic analysis by the OPAL.

In addition, Senate Joint Resolution 40 directs the Department of Economic Development and Commerce to design a plan to promote tire recycling and establish asphalt production plants with recycled tires on public lands.

“These resolutions seek to ensure that the government acts responsibly, with clear data, and a sense of urgency,” the senator said. “We cannot continue improvising while climate change puts lives, infrastructure, and the country’s economy at risk.”

Álvarez insisted that the relevant public policy must consider the cost of inaction in the face of the climate emergency, including the loss of lives and the collapse of essential economic sectors. She vowed to continue promoting legislation that fosters resilience and sustainability in Puerto Rico.