Climate change commission meeting

The LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, chaired by speaker-nominee Rep. Joe Hackney and Greensboro attorney John L. W. Garrou, meets again this morning with a focus on how climate change may affect the state’s coastline and coastal communities.

Last fall, the co-chairs penned an interesting piece on the so-called scientific debate over climate change and how the media covers the issue. Worth a read. So’s this.

The agenda looks pretty interesting—a lineup of some of the top coastal experts.

The meeting is 10 a.m. in Room 643 LOB, here’s a look at the agenda;

1. Call to order
John L. W. Garrou, Presiding

2. Introductory remarks by Cochairs
John. L. W. Garrou
Representative Joe Hackney

3. Report to the Commission and explanation of agenda items
George F. Givens, Commission Counsel

4. Discussion of the effects of global climate change as they relate to coastal adaptation
Discussion of coastal vulnerability to erosion, storm hazards, and potential sea-level rise
S. Jeffress Williams, Coastal Marine Geologist
United States Geological Survey, Woods Hole Science Center

Presentation of the National Academy of Sciences report Mitigating Shore Erosion along Sheltered Coasts
Debra Hernandez, President
Hernandez and Company

Discussion of the projected impacts of global climate change on coastal ecosystems in North Carolina
Dr. Douglas N. Rader, Principal Scientist for Oceans and Estuaries

Environmental Defense
Discussion of the implications of sea level rise for coastal development policy
Dr. Courtney T. Hackney, Chair
Coastal Resources Commission
Walter Clark, Coastal Community and Policy Specialist
North Carolina Sea Grant

5. Update on and discussion of activities and possible recommendations of the Climate Action Plan Advisory Group (CAPAG)
Brock M. Nicholson, Deputy Director
Division of Air Quality, Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Tom Peterson, Executive Director
The Center for Climate Strategies

6. Commission discussion and announcements

7. Adjourn

NEXT MEETING:
The Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change will meet on Thursday 22 February 2007 in Room 643 of the Legislative Office Building, at a time to be announced.

COMMISSION WEBSITE:
In order to provide public access to the materials distributed at the meetings of the Commission and to all official Commission correspondence, a website has been developed for the Commission. The website can be viewed online at the following address:

http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/DocumentSites/browseDocSite.asp?nID=14

If you have comments or suggestions for ways to improve the content or format of the website, please provide these comments to Commission staff.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Persons having questions about the Commission meeting or other matters related to the Commission may contact Commission Counsel or other Commission staff at (919) 733-2578.