Statewide Educational Partnership On Climate Change Formed

(13 May 2003—Durham) Scientists and museum directors across North Carolina are combining resources and expertise to increase understanding of the complex issue of climate change.  The North Carolina Climate Change Science Partnership, launched today at the Duke Center on Global Change, was formed by state nonprofit organizations and institutions including North Carolina Environmental Defense, the Sustainability Institute, Duke Center on Global Change and the Grassroots Science Museums Collaborative.

“National studies have shown that public awareness of climate change science is low, yet understanding this complex issue will become increasingly important to the well-being of North Carolina citizens,” said Michael Shore, southeast air quality manager for Environmental Defense.  “Potential impacts in the state include sea-level rise and increased coastal erosion, more extreme summer heat, water supply constraints for growing cities, rainfall variability impacting the agricultural sector, and loss of species in forests, wetlands and other ecosystems.  Now is the time to start educating the public in a formal, organized way.”

“From the National Climate Data Center in Asheville to the universities in the Research Triangle to research sites at the coast, North Carolina boasts a significant number of major research facilities and climate change scientists,” said Drew Jones, program director for the Sustainability Institute.  “North Carolina scientists are doing cutting-edge research in the cutting-edge science of climate change.  They will now be able to share their work directly with the people of the state through this new partnership with science museums.”

“North Carolina boasts strong science museums in many cities and has the country’s only organized partnership of science museums — the North Carolina Grassroots Science Center Collaborative,” said Fran Nolan, executive director of the collaborative.  “Three million people walk through the doors of the state’s 22 science museums every year.  Their visits offer an excellent opportunity to provide educational programs and products about the ways in which climate change will affect their daily lives and the future of the state.”