ECU Scientists Work to Protect the Coast
 

The Institute for Coastal Science and Policy (ICSP) has released two pivotal reports on the subject of global warming and its effect on the state of North Carolina. In October of 2008, “North Carolina’s Coasts in Crisis: A Vision for the Future” was published, discussing the detrimental effects climate change has on the coast, as well as alternatives to solve this growing problem.  Similarly, ECU Board of Trustees approved the ICSP’s response to Senator Marc Basnight’s request to compile information on the ever-growing problem of global warming.  On July 23, 2008, Senator Basnight, President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina General Assembly, solicited the aid of researchers from ECU by asking them to compile a report of the causes and expected results of global warming and how the state of North Carolina can contribute to the preventing the effects of global warming from spreading.  ECU responded with a 32-page document, similar to the “Coasts in Crisis” publication, outlining specifically how global warming effects the coast of Eastern North Carolina, as well as a timeline of how global warming will affect children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in the years to come.

Specifically, ECU researchers pointed out three key findings to Senator Basnight.  The first is that global warming is a reality and is driven by the burning of fossil fuels and emission of greenhouse gases.  The evidence that supports this is derived from the scientific observations of the increase in global average air, ocean temperatures, rising global sea levels and widespread melting of glacial ice. The second and third key findings deal specifically with the state of North Carolina and its citizens.  The threat to North Carolina include the rising of the sea level, as well as extremes in precipitation ranging from drought to deluges and flooding, changes in the availability of water, frequency of tropical storms, accelerated coastal erosion, threat of barrier island collapse on the Outer Banks and other islands.  Coastal North Carolina’s low-lying agricultural land and wetlands tend to be vulnerable to highly variable precipitation and sea-level rise.  The third finding considers the economic and social impact of climate change to the state of North Carolina and its citizens, which show that migration, tourism, population increases, development and growing wealth on the coast can increase the consequences of severe events such as hurricanes or rising sea levels.  The citizens directly affected by this tend to be from lower economic areas.

In response to the three key findings from ECU, there were several recommendations made to Senator Basnight that would be beneficial to North Carolina. The creation of a commission to review initiatives of other coastal states, along with a second commission of a panel of experts to conduct a review and assessment of the state government to determine whether or not the state is capable to respond to the challenges of adaptation, climate change, and mitigation.  ECU researchers also proposed to initiate a study to analyze the socio-economic impact of sea level rise breaks in the Outer Banks and other vulnerable islands, the creation of a Coastal Adaptation Fund to provide research on climate change and the coast, the increase of support to the North Carolina Sea Grant Program and other university outreach programs, design incentives for UNC faculty to conduct research that advances knowledge and contributes to the need of information by citizens and decision-makers, and lastly the establishment of a network of university research centers to address issues connected with climate change.

Senator Basnight’s request of information and recommendations correlates directly with the “Coasts in Crisis” publication, as both seek out the reasons behind global warming and alternatives to solving this ever-growing problem.  Both aim to bring about greater awareness of climate change and the effects it has on the state of North Carolina, as well as its citizens.

View the entire February 2009 Issue of Exploration & Discovery