When I saw the headline “A movement with little motion: Climate change not resonating with public” [April 24], I was skeptical. Reading on, I understood the point. It’s tough to sustain public interest in an issue that feels less urgent than the tragedy in Boston.
I have found the climate movement here to be not only alive and well, but growing and gaining momentum. On a freezing day this February, I joined 50,000 people for the Forward on Climate Rally in Washington, D.C., and marched with busloads of people from North Carolina who care deeply about the future we are leaving for our children.
Last Sunday, around the time of the climate rally in Raleigh, I joined with faith leaders and nearly 250 people for a Caring for Creation climate vigil in Asheville. Participants were invited to get involved with the Asheville Beyond Coal campaign, a call from the Sierra Club and our partners to move N.C. beyond coal.
Decreasing our reliance on coal and building renewable industries is the best chance we have at avoiding the worst impacts of climate change. We already have 15,000 jobs in the clean energy economy in N.C. For many legislators, last week’s vote to keep the state’s renewable energy portfolio in place was motivated by job creation. Yet it will have the result of lessening N.C.’s climate impact.
In N.C., thousands have taken action this year to stop climate change. In courtrooms, the General Assembly, Utilities Commission public hearings and Duke Energy’s corporate offices, North Carolinians are calling for a clean energy future that changes the course on climate change.
Kelly Martin, Beyond Coal campaign
