North Carolina

How domestic and local efforts measure up to landmark UN climate report

Published

2 years ago

March 20, 2023

How domestic and local efforts measure up to landmark UN climate report

The world is quickly approaching catastrophic warming with worldwide local weather objectives set to slide out of attain until quick and radical motion is taken, in response to a brand new UN-backed report.

“The local weather time-bomb is ticking,” United Nations Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres stated.

The Earth has already warmed greater than 2 levels Fahrenheit since pre-industrial occasions, and is projected to surpass the two.7-degree warming restrict set within the Paris settlement inside the subsequent decade, in response to the report.

Jason West, an environmental sciences and engineering professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, says scientists have been sounding the local weather change alarm for many years. “It is good to see that there are at the very least extra individuals paying consideration,” he stated.

United Nations leaders are warning that the world could also be nearing its final likelihood to stop surpassing the harmful local weather threshold and inspiring developed nations to succeed in carbon neutrality by 2040, a decade before the US’ present objectives.

“There’s actually no time to lose, each fraction of a level issues,” stated Cassie Flynn, United Nations Improvement Program Head of Local weather Coverage and Methods. “We want a few of these highest emitters, a few of these largest economies to maneuver quickest, furthest.”

The report comes because the U.S. continues to approve new fossil gas tasks, together with a large drilling improvement in Alaska referred to as Willow, accepted by the Biden administration final week.

Nicole Ghio, a fossil fuels program supervisor with Mates of the Earth, one of many environmental teams pursuing litigation over the Willow venture, says the brand new drilling endeavor is predicted to emit 287 million metric tons of carbon over the following 30 years, equal to 76 coal crops or 56 million autos per 12 months.

“Biden campaigned on a promise to cease new oil and gasoline improvement on public lands and the Willow venture is actually only a slap within the face to the individuals who elected him and anybody who’s combating local weather change,” Ghio stated.

The UN report says there’s nonetheless an opportunity to vary course by slicing greenhouse emissions in half by 2030, a objective already adopted by North Carolina final January in Governor Roy Cooper’s Government Order 246.

Based on the North Carolina Deep Decarbonization Pathways Evaluation launched final month, the state is predicted to overlook that mark, with projections that it’s going to solely attain a 46 p.c discount in emissions by 2030.

Shawn Taylor, a public info officer with North Carolina Division of Environmental High quality’s Division of Air High quality, says the state’s targets align with the objectives outlined by UN scientists.

Based on DEQ knowledge, the Transportation sector is the most important emissions sector and represents about 36% of all greenhouse gasoline emissions, surpassing power manufacturing.

A number of mandates, together with Government Order 271, define extra efforts to cut back emissions from the transportation sector. “These efforts embody accelerating the state’s transition to zero-emission automobiles and vans instead of gasoline and diesel-powered autos,” Taylor stated.

The emission discount projections within the DEQ’s 2022 Greenhouse Fuel Stock report discovered that between 2005 and 2018, North Carolina lowered gross greenhouse gasoline emissions by 16% and web greenhouse gasoline emissions by 23%. Throughout this identical time interval, North Carolina’s inhabitants grew by almost 20%.

Duke Power spokesperson Invoice Norton says there has already been sturdy progress within the clear power transition and that it has retired two-thirds of coal crops within the Carolinas. “The latest the Carbon Plan order from the North Carolina Utilities Fee is a vital step towards 70% carbon discount by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050, strongly affirming the worth of a various, all-of-the-above method to carbon discount in a way that balances affordability and reliability for purchasers.”

West says he thinks the Carbon Plan is a step ahead, however the state might do extra. “We may be extra aggressive and scale back extra rapidly, having North Carolina play its position in serving to to realize nationwide and worldwide targets of the place we need to see emissions go,” he stated.

Based on the UN report, delays of even a number of years for world targets might guarantee a warmer and extra harmful future, with extra extreme and frequent disasters, droughts, and heatwaves that might declare hundreds of thousands of extra lives by the top of the century.

The excellent news is, there’s nonetheless hope.

“Now we have the science, now we have the instruments, we even have the cash, however what we actually want is political will,” Flynn stated. “And we’d like public help for these huge choices that should be made to rework an financial system.”

Source link

Click to comment

North Carolina

NC Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Dec. 25, 2024

Published

6 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024 results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

15-26-27-30-35, Powerball: 03, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

04-10-35-42-45, Lucky Ball: 02

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

Day: 8-0-0, Fireball: 3

Evening: 7-3-2, Fireball: 2

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

Day: 9-0-3-0, Fireball: 7

Evening: 9-3-8-4, Fireball: 7

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

03-09-28-39-40

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Double Play numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

01-11-15-18-22

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.

For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:

Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.

When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Source link

North Carolina

Santa Claus swaps reindeer for alpacas at farm in Waynesville

Published

17 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Santa Claus swaps reindeer for alpacas at farm in Waynesville

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. — At Winchester Creek Farm, Santa Claus traded in his traditional reindeer for alpacas during the farm’s Santa Tour on Monday.

The event offered visitors a unique opportunity to pose for photos with Santa and interact closely with the farm’s animals.

The farm also featured a large mailbox for children to send their letters to Santa. Luanna Baldwin, a mother from Canton, expressed her delight with the experience.

“This was a great outing to take the girls for some Christmas magic,” Baldwin said. “They’ve been asking to see Santa, write a letter specifically, so that was super fun.”

At Winchester Creek Farm, Santa Claus traded in his traditional reindeer for alpacas during the farm’s Santa Tour, which concluded on Monday, Dec. 23.

WLOS via CNN Newsource

In addition to the alpacas, the tour allowed guests to feed and pet various other farm animals. Farm Manager Ashley Edwards highlighted the joy the event brings to visitors of all ages.

“We have people come in who are in their 60s, 70s, and above who have never touched a chicken before, and I’m able to provide that kind of happiness to their hearts to their soul, and I think it’s great,” Edwards said. “This is a memory people aren’t going to forget.”

Winchester Creek Farm has been hosting the Santa Tours for the past six years. Although this year’s event has ended, the farm offers tours throughout the year.

Winchester Creek Farm operates as a year-round working farm, raising animals primarily for the fiber produced by their coats.

SEE ALSO | Schools closed for winter break: Family fun things to do

Featured video is ABC11 24/7 Livestream

Source link

North Carolina

Multiple injuries reported in northeast Charlotte 8-car crash

Published

1 day ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Multiple injuries reported in northeast Charlotte 8-car crash

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – An eight-car crash injured several people and shut down a major interstate on Christmas Eve, the Charlotte Fire Department confirmed.

The crash happened at Interstate 85 North at West W.T. Harris Boulevard. I-85 was shut down by 7:40 p.m. and isn’t expected to reopen before 10:40 p.m.

Of those injured, two were taken to area hospitals, according to Medic.

Crews at the scene said to expect significant delays in the area.

For the latest traffic maps, visit drivenc.gov.

WBTV is working to find out more information. Download the free WBTV News app for the latest updates sent straight to your device.

Source link