Release of North Carolina Resilience Plan an Essential Step to Address Climate Change and Protect Vulnerable Communities on the Frontlines

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

(RALEIGH, NC – June 2, 2020) North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper today announced the release of the North Carolina Climate Risk Assessment and Resilience Plan, developed by the North Carolina Climate Change Interagency Council as a result of Executive Order No. 80. The plan includes an update of the available climate science, providing critical information on the growing risks and vulnerabilities for our state, with particular focus on the impacts to marginalized and minority communities. The plan provides a sector-based assessment of those threats and, importantly, outlines common-sense guiding principles that state agencies and the Legislature can adopt to steer policy and funding to these priorities. It also highlights the importance of nature-based solutions to address the growing risk of flooding, drought and fire.

“After devastation from back-to-back hurricanes and in the face of rapidly rising seas, North Carolina must act with urgency to build meaningful resilience,” said EDF Director, Resilient Landscapes Will McDow. “This plan marks an important milestone towards a more resilient future for our state.”  

“The Resilience Plan begins to address protecting vulnerable communities who are bearing a disproportionate share of the climate change burden,” said EDF Manager, Partnerships and Outreach Marilynn Marsh-Robinson. “What’s needed next is additional community engagement and holistic approaches developed hand-in-hand with the communities they are designed to protect. It’s critical to support those most impacted throughout the process and equip them with what is needed to implement long-term solutions.”

“The governor is starting an important dialogue on how best to prepare our state for the impacts of climate change,” added McDow. “We must now work together to move this plan into action to build meaningful resilience for our communities, businesses and ecosystems.”

• Background: North Carolina confronts climate change with forthcoming resilience plan