Urgent Alert: Experts Signal Rapid Climate Change Risks in NC Amid White House Push for Fossil Fuels

Last month, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at boosting American energy production, focusing on oil, natural gas, and coal. However, fossil fuels play a major role in climate change, contributing over 75% of greenhouse gas emissions. North Carolina is already feeling these effects.

The order, titled “Protecting American Energy From State Overreach,” seeks to reverse climate change policies that he deems politically driven. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the highest global temperatures since 1850 were recorded in the last decade. In North Carolina, we currently have 2-3 weeks of days above 95 degrees, and predictions suggest this could rise to nearly 8 weeks in the next 50 years.

John Bruno, a biology professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been closely studying these changes, especially their effects on marine ecosystems. He warns that by the end of the century, cities like Raleigh could experience climates similar to Jacksonville, Florida. "It depends on the choices we make now," he says.

Bruno notes that we are already seeing signs of climate change in our environment. More subtropical plants are growing here, and animals like armadillos and manatees are expanding their ranges into North Carolina. He points out, "We’re not just warming the Earth; the rate of warming is accelerating."

Recent studies back this up. Research shows that global sea temperatures have risen significantly in just a few years, leading to faster glacial melting and more extreme weather patterns.

Bruno believes robust laws are essential to combat this trend, citing the Endangered Species Act as a successful example. He hopes for similar action at the federal level to mitigate these rapid changes.

In summary, the actions we take today will impact the climate for future generations. The conversation about energy and climate is more critical than ever.

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