Living along the North Carolina coast, we’re no stranger to environmental issues. One of those is the impact of climate change on our surroundings.
It’s getting warmer. Seas are rising. Coastal insurance rates are going up.
We’re fortunate to have a full-time reporter who covers these topics and many others for the StarNews. Gareth McGrath has been at the newspaper more than 25 years in a variety of roles. About three years ago, he took on a unique position covering climate change.
His position is possible because of financial support from the Green South Foundation and the Prentice Foundation. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work, but the grant funding allows Gareth to spend time digging into this incredibly important topic.
Today’s cover story is the perfect example. He takes a look at how North Carolina communities – from the Outer Banks to Brunswick County — are dealing with disappearing beaches. He delves into the fact that solutions aren’t easy, popular or cheap.