North Carolinians are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of global warming.
We are currently experiencing the worst drought on record in our state, and many scientists believe it has been exasperated by climate change. Legislators share your concerns and are working hard to come up with solutions to problems caused by global climate change. The Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change met recently to discuss the effects of climate change and what North Carolina needs to do to prevent the catastrophic effects of global warming.
Thank you for allowing me to share this information with you. Please let me know if I can be of assistance in any way.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The Climate Change Commission heard a summary of the most recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which is made up of 2,500 scientists from countries around the world. The IPCC reviews published and peer-reviewed literature focused on climate change and publishes a report as a consensus on the issue. In 2007, the IPCC shared the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize with former Vice President Al Gore.
The IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report
Last year, the IPCC released its Fourth Assessment Report. According to this report, global warming is taking place and is caused by increased greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gas emissions have increased 70 percent in the past 35 years. Worldwide temperature has increased by 1.35ËšF in the past century and is expected to increase 2-11ËšF in the 21st century.
Environmental Changes
During the next century, sea levels will probably rise 7-23 inches, and we will have extreme high tides, heavy precipitation and more intense hurricanes more often. As carbon dioxide emissions increase, the ocean warms and loses its ability to sequester carbon, which could take centuries to reverse. Coastal states such as North Carolina (with more than 4,500 miles of coastal shoreline) are at greater risk of storm surge and coastal erosion. North Carolina is third on the list of vulnerability to rising sea levels, behind Florida and Louisiana. Many coastal geologists predict that much of our Outer Banks could be under water within a generation.
At the same time, we could have increased heat waves and drought. Higher percentages of our rainfall would come in shorter periods of time. Increased carbon dioxide is also making the oceans more acidic, which harms marine life.
North American wood and timber producers could lose $1 billion to $2 billion a year due to increased wildfires, insect infestation and diseases. Our state’s Christmas tree industry could be wiped out along with other crops that are accustomed to our current climate.
Health Issues
With a decrease in the number of cold days and nights, plant and animal pests would increase, leading to disease and food shortages. Global warming has already contributed to an increase in and the spread of diseases and premature deaths. North Carolina could experience outbreaks of malaria and dengue fever. In the middle of the 21st Century, more than 1 billion people will experience water and food shortages and may have to relocate to survive, including tens of millions of Americans.
What Can We Do?
We have many options that can change the effects of global warming. Using renewable energy sources and fuel efficient/hybrid vehicles are easy ways to start. We can also use green building methods and solar-powered heating and cooling systems. We should also restore soils that can store carbon, use better agriculture techniques to reduce methane gases, use crops as alternative fuels and compost organic waste. We will also need to adapt to the fact that sea level rise and climate change are happening. We will need to adopt better coastal management practices as well as help farmers adjust to new crops.
This session, North Carolina became the first state in the Southeast to set a renewable energy standard for power companies. We passed laws to reduce energy consumption, promote the use of alternative energy sources and biodiesel fuel, and strengthened regulations for the construction of landfills. We also banned the construction of new hog lagoons and increased the maximum penalty for air quality violations.
The Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change is considering policy recommendations for the General Assembly. Some of these include setting a cap for carbon emissions, establishing a cap and trade system for carbon emissions, developing a market for carbon offsets that could help our farmers and adopting cleaner car standards as 11 other states have done. The commission is also considering developing more renewable energy opportunities such as offshore wind and wave energy along with other policies. The commission will make formal recommendation to the Legislature in May.
In February, Rajendra K. Pachauri, the Nobel Prize winning chairman of the IPCC will address members of the commission and offer suggestions on other policies North Carolina should consider for maintaining our quality of life.
Please remember that you can visit the General Assembly’s website to look up bills, view lawmaker biographies and access other information.
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As I’ve said many times before, I hope you will continue to let me know how you feel about the issues that are being debated by the North Carolina Legislature and the challenges you and your family are facing each day.
By working together, we can make Northampton, Vance and Warren Counties and all regions of North Carolina a better place to live, work and raise a family.