Climate Change

An exhibit at Charlotte's Museum of the New South this summer examines the global phenomenon of climate change as a local issue, through the eyes of educators and their students.

Climate change doesn't directly cause wildfires, but it does create the conditions that make fires more likely. A new analysis of weather data by Climate Central shows that as the planet warms, the number of fire weather days is growing nationwide, including North Carolina.

Tuesday's temperature hit the upper 80s and low 90s across the Carolinas, giving us a preview of things to come this spring and summer. As average global temperatures rise with climate change, so do the number of dangerously high heat days. And with that comes health risks, especially for those with health problems and people who work outdoors or in hot environments.

North Carolina's homebuilders are winning a political battle to block modernization of the state's outdated energy efficiency standards. The industry argues stricter energy codes would make houses too expensive. But not all builders see it that way. We talk to one builder whose business is based on energy efficiency.

I was in Boise, Idaho, last week for the annual conference of the Society of Environmental Journalists. I came back with a head crammed full of information, story ideas and insights — like how a city smaller than Charlotte or Raleigh, in a red state, is pushing to meet climate goals.

Gov. Roy Cooper urged business leaders at a conference in Raleigh Wednesday to help resist legislative efforts to slow the state's clean energy efforts.

Here's an innovation for device-carrying people on a college campus: a solar-and-battery-powered picnic shelter that provides both shade and power. The idea has been around for at least a decade, but as solar technology improves and prices fall, it's becoming more than just a novelty. And now it's part of the campus sustainability plan at Catawba College in Salisbury — and more are on the way.

North Carolina transportation officials have sent the governor a Clean Transportation Plan for cutting carbon emissions from transportation to meet the state's climate goals.

A climate protest in uptown Charlotte at midday Tuesday called on Bank of America, Wells Fargo and other large banks to stop financing fossil fuel-related businesses.

The project's developer, Apex Clean Energy, says the turbines will be one-quarter to one-half mile apart on managed timberland and farmland. Their capacity to generate 189 megawatts of electricity will be enough to power 47,000 homes, according to Apex.