Climate Change is Urgent
- August 8th, 2010
Global CO2 emissions must peak by 2015 — and all coal-fired power plants must be closed by 2030 — to avoid run-away climate change. Global climate change is already killing hundreds of thousands of people every year and causing major economic and environmental damage.
“If global mean temperature increase is to be stabilized between 2.0-2.4°C, then CO2 emissions must peak by 2015.”
- Rajendra Pachauri, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Chairman
- Getting back to 350 PPM is imperative to humanity’s survival
- Why 2015?
- Global Climate Change Causes 300,000 Deaths a Year
- Animated global temperature 1800 – present
Books we suggest for further reading:
- Dr. James E. Hansen, Storms of My Grandchildren
- Gwynne Dyer, Climate Wars
- David Orr, Down to the Wire
North Carolina Matters
NC emits more CO2 from burning fossil fuels than 186 nations. Two of the largest US utilities are headquartered here. Change here can cause ripple effects across the nation.
- Current Estimates Rank NC as the 14th Highest CO2 Emitter
- Duke Energy’s emission rank is 11th in the world and 3rd in America
- Progress Energy’s emission rank 38th in the world and 18th in America
North Carolina’s average annual rate of green house gas (GHG) emissions continues to grow.
- NC Ranks 4th for Projected Average Annual Growth Rate (page 29 and 30)
Coal pollution is in your back yard.
- Location of Coal Plants in NC (click on map to see larger version)
