Reports
Learn more about global warming and what it means for our state and region.
Governor's Commission on Climate Change
In 2008, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine established a diverse panel of environmentalists, academics and business interests to create a Climate Action Plan for Virginia. The commission found that climate change was a serious threat to Virginia and that the state had a responsibility to act fast. Among other things, the commssion recommended mandatory energy efficiency benchmarks for Virginia's eletricity industry. Read the full report here.
EPA Releases Report on Sea Level Rise
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in collaboration with other agencies, has released a report that discusses the impacts of sea level rise on the coast, coastal communities, and the habitats and species that depend on them. The report, Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region, examines multiple opportunities for governments and coastal communities to plan for and adapt to rising sea levels. The report is one of 21 climate change synthesis and assessment products commissioned by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP). CCSP was established in 2002 to provide the U.S. with science-based knowledge to manage the risks and opportunities of change in the climate and related environmental systems. The program is responsible for coordinating and integrating the research of 13 federal agencies on climate and global change. More information on the report: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/effects/coastal/sap4-1.html
Sea Level Rise in the Chesapeake Region
If global warming continues unabated, projected rising sea levels will significantly reshape the region's coastal landscape, threatening communities, wetalnds and fisheries in Virginia and Maryland. This report from the National Wildlife Federation includes maps showing what global warming could mean to Norfolk and other coastal communities.
Growing Cooler: Climate Change and Smart Growth
Transportation is Virginia's single largest source of global warming pollution. To cut those emissions, we need cleaner cars and more efficient communities. The Urban Land Institure has documented how user-friendly mass transit and walkable neighbors can help Virginia save energy and reduce pollution. To read more, click here.