April 11, 2023
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a new synthesis report on 20 March 2023 updating their findings on humanity’s impact on the planet. The following is a summary from Lou Tierno, the Decarbonize Middle America Program Manager at the Center for Sustainable Business, and his recommendations for the region moving forward.
The changing climate is one of the most pressing issues facing humanity today. The causes of this change are well understood by science: pollution in the atmosphere traps greenhouse gases, which are causing the planet to warm. The rate of this change is accelerating, and if we do not act soon, the consequences will be severe.
People locally and around the world are already feeling the impact of our rapidly changing climate. In Appalachia, we are seeing more extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, floods, and landslides. Lives are disrupted or lost, properties are damaged, and families are being forced from their homes. Outside of our region, climate change is causing sea level rise which is inundating coastal communities and ecosystems.
Global GHG emissions in 2030 implied by nationally determined contributions (NDCs) announced by October 2021 make it likely that warming will exceed 1.5°C during the 21st century and make it harder to limit warming below 2°C. There are gaps between projected emissions from implemented policies and those from NDCs and finance flows fall short of the levels needed to meet climate goals across all sectors and regions
(IPCC)
In Appalachia, it’s time to act to make our region a safe, healthy, and prosperous place to live and work. I am fortunate to talk with the people working to impact our region to respond to the climate crisis. Our conversations about where the region needs to act align with the recent IPCC report: switching to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, decarbonizing and innovating Appalachian industry, adapting to the impacts of climate disasters, and supporting policies at every level that promote community climate resilience.
The good news is that Appalachian communities are taking strides in each of these areas with amazing support from our local leaders and recent federal government support, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Appalachia has one the greatest opportunities of any region for that first IPCC-aligned effort: to switch our energy production to renewable sources. Our region has a rich history of providing one of largest sources of energy in the world and now we have the chance to bring in existing technologies and innovate new ones to mitigate risks to lives regionally and globally. In 2021, West Virginia alone produced about 14,000 megawatts of electricity, a large portion of the energy used in the Northeast. Currently, over 90% of that energy comes from coal production, a pollution intensive source with negative health impacts in our communities. We need to transition towards renewable energy production, while leaving no one behind in the drive toward a thriving future for all.
I’ll paraphrase Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin: We are the 13 states united by a mountain ridge, we are a family of 26 million that helped build our country and we have an opportunity to do it again. The only regions larger than ours are California and Texas. It’s time we worked together to make a difference for future generations.
In my position as the Decarbonize Middle America Program Manager, I have the pleasure to attend many events across Appalachia hosted by the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, the Scott Institute for Energy Innovation, and the annual Forward Focus Symposium hosted by the Public Education Collaborative.
Here I heard Valerie Karplus speak on the state of the energy transition in Appalachia. She summed up this transition perfectly with an analogy that I, myself, often use: Appalachia has all the right ingredients to bake the cake that is a regional sustainable transition, and we are all the chefs.
The recipe goes something like this:
- Technology that lowers our greenhouse gas emissions (air pollution)
- Infrastructure that enables multiple sectors to transition to renewables
- Policy and leaders that generate clarity of goals and rewards for early movers
- Jobs and community benefits that last for generations to come
- Lastly, a mix of goodwill and common interests that helps us accelerate the previous four ingredients. Think of this as a leavening agent that makes our cake rise.
Luckily for us, we are well underway at mixing these ingredients together towards a sustainable future. The IPCC made one thing very clear – NOW is the time to act. Nowhere is that more accurate than right here at home where we’ve raised our families for generations in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, a place that I’m proud to call home. Let’s come together as one family, 26 million strong, to leverage our unique and adaptive resources to make a change for future generations to thrive!
What are you doing at work to prepare for climate change? Contact Lou to learn about accelerating and being a part of the decarbonization solution!