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Climate Change

Last Page Update: 02/12/2007
Climate Change Advisory Group

NC Climate Group Holds 5th Meeting

January 25, 2007 - The North Carolina Climate Action Plan Advisory Group (CAPAG) held its fifth meeting on Wednesday, January 24, 2007, at the EPA Building in RTP, NC. The four previous meetings were held in February, May, July, and October of 2006, while the Technical Groups have been holding regular meetings throughout the past year. The advisory group's purpose is to develop recommendations for specific actions to help reduce or prevent climate change. (See the advisory group's website.) The advisory group has worked closely with the NC Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change. (See the commission's website.) The legislative commission held its most recent meeting on Friday, January 12, 2007, in Room 643 of the legislative office building.

Supreme Court Tackles Greenhouse Gas Debate

Nov. 29 - The U.S. Supreme Court began hearing arguments today on whether the EPA should be required to treat greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, as air pollutants that require regulation. The court is expected to hand down its decision in 2007. ABA Link...

NC Climate Action Group Holds 4th Meeting

October 13 - The North Carolina Climate Action Plan Advisory Group (CAPAG) held its 4th meeting on October 12th at NCSU. The advisory group, which includes approximately 40 different stakeholders, is being assisted by the Center for Climate Strategies. In addition, the advisory group is working with the legislative commission established in 2005 to address broad policy issues and the feasibility of setting specific goals for North Carolina with respect to global climate change. (See the commission's web page.)

Technical Groups Study Options to Reduce Greenhouse Gases

July 26 - The technical work groups with the North Carolina Climate Action Plan Advisory Group (CAPAG) are studying options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in North Carolina. Most of the meetings take place via teleconference and members of the public may attend or connect via speakerphone. The advisory group includes the following five technical work groups:

Agriculture, Forestry, and Waste Management (AFW)
Residential, Commercial, and Industrial (RCI)
Energy Supply (ES)
Transportation and Land Use (TLU)
Cross Cutting

BBC News Reports on European Concerns over Carbon Trading

May 15 - The BBC News is reporting that the European Union has concerns regarding the implementation of the carbon trading program designed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The European Commission has issued a report indicating that problems have resulted from the issuance of too many carbon credits. The program involves governments setting quotas for the carbon dioxide emissions produced by 9,400 large factories and power stations in 21 member states.

Under the trading program, carbon permits are issued to firms to give them a financial incentive to invest in clean technology and reduce their emissions. The objective of the program was to raise the cost to firms of continuing to emit greenhouse gases while creating a market to give an incentive to become more environmentally efficient. However, the issuance of too many carbon credits has resulted in a drop in their price, eliminating the incentive to reduce emissions. (See the BBC News Story.)

Related News and Links

EPA forming committee on Coastal Elevations and Sea Level Rise - 05/22/06.
Pew Center on - Global Climate Change.
EPA Web Page - Global Warming and Climate Change.
STAPPA/ALAPCO Web Page - Climate Change and State Greenhouse Gas Actions.