Abstract

This report contains recommendations from a voluntary stakeholder advisory group on potential measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are worthy of consideration by policy makers in North Carolina. This advisory group represents a broad range of interests in North Carolina. The Climate Action Plan Advisory Group (CAPAG) consists of more than 40 volunteers from business, industry, environmental groups, academia, government and the general public. A consultant, the Center for Climate Strategies (CCS), provided facilitation and technical analysis expertise. From over 300 potential GHG mitigation options, more than 50 were analyzed considering likely GHG reductions, costs and benefits.

The North Carolina General Assembly created a Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change (LCGCC) in the fall of 2005 to address climate related issues. These issues included whether North Carolina should set a goal for reduction of GHGs in this state, and if so, what that goal should be. CAPAG coordinated closely with the LCGCC and shared several members with that Commission.

This report is not intended to be a climate action implementation plan for North Carolina. Such a plan will come only after State policy makers assess these and other recommendations further. However the data, results and recommendations contained in this report provide valuable guidance for the creation of an action plan(s) for legislative, administrative, regulatory or voluntary action.