Searching for the Elusive White Squirrel
By Dani Halliday
THE HIGHWAY 64 PROJECT
History of Climate Resilience
in North Carolina
Policies haven't always supported climate action, but North Carolina
has taken several steps to prepare its communities
Executive Order 80
“Since Executive Order 80 was signed into action in 2018, institutions across the state, including the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Information Technology, have been working towards numerous climate related goals. Here we’d like to share some key updates related to the North Carolina climate resiliency strategy; “North Carolina has also advanced its clean energy initiatives, with the expansion of solar and wind energy projects, as well as the development of offshore wind farms. The state has bolstered its resilience to extreme weather events and sea-level rise by investing in infrastructure improvements, while also prioritizing the preservation of its natural resources, such as forests and waterways. Additionally, Executive Order 80 has paved the way for increased public awareness and engagement in environmental issues, encouraging sustainable practices and fostering a greener, more resilient future for North Carolina.”
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2023 Update
On October 29, 2018, Governor Roy Cooper signed Executive Order No. 80 titled, “North Carolina’s Commitment to Address Climate Change and Transition to a Clean Energy Economy.” In this order, Governor Cooper laid out a series of goals for the state to accomplish by 2025.
The first goal is to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions to 40% below 2005 levels. The next goal is to increase the number of registered, zero-emissions vehicles to at least 80,000. The last goal is to reduce energy consumption per square foot in state-owned buildings by at least 40% from the fiscal year 2002-2003 levels.
The Climate Change Interagency Council was created to help cabinet agencies work together to achieve these goals. Read the full Executive Order 80 here.​
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On March 28th, 2024 then Governor Roy Cooper announced that North Carolina had achieved our goal of reduction of vehicle emissions earlier than the 2025 deadline. This marks remarkable progress from 2018 when the initial order was signed and bodes well for progress on other climate related goals outlined by the plan. This also has direct positive impacts on other goals we are aiming to achieve, such as a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to below 2005 levels. The state now aims to continue progress on climate initiatives under the leadership of the new governor-elect Josh Stein, whos has expressed a desire to continue improving climate resiliency in the state.