As years warm, NC coast must prepare

Those coastal homeowners and developers in North Carolina who have their heads in the sand with regard to global warming and climate change have had a tough few days.

This weekend’s searing days are not in themselves evidence of a warming planet and the rising seas that will come with more heat. But the high temperatures are part of a worrisome trend. NASA scientists say 2016 looks like it will set a new mark for overall high temperatures, becoming the third year in a row of record warmth.

Global warming and climate change are trends that are getting harder and harder to deny. The heat of late and the heat to come point out again the foolishness of Republicans in simply revising state projections, backed up by data from scientists, that the ocean was going to be more than 3 feet higher on the coast by the end of this century. The GOP simply “revised” those projections to stop at 30 years, which shows a rise of only 8 inches. That’s comforting, of course, to coastal homeowners with an eye toward selling their properties and developers who hope to put up more condos and houses along the coast and go upscale with some properties already in existence. The reality that the coastal economy is going to feel a negative impact from rising sea levels is unpleasant, to be sure, but it is a reality that needs to be faced, not ignored.

This story was originally published July 24, 2016 at 2:16 PM with the headline "As years warm, NC coast must prepare."