UNC's South Building; the office of the chancellor. Image courtesy Caroline Culler. License.
Environmental Research Cuts Demand UNC Reallocate Resources
Hurricane Helene and tropical storm Chantal make it clear that the climate crisis is here. Yet, federal cuts to critical environmental research have scientists and staff struggling to make ends meet.
These cuts impact UNC’s Center for Resilient Communities and Environment (CRCE), the EPA office previously located on campus, UNC’s Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), and more. The decision to terminate these research grants will cause harm well beyond Chapel Hill. It will have implications for the rest of the state, country, and world. Cuts to agriculture, medicine, and the environment will have dire consequences for all of us.
Tropical storm Chantal caused record-breaking flooding in Chapel Hill and nearby towns, including my hometown, Hillsborough. I remember receiving the severe weather alert that I have grown accustomed to by now. Usually what follows are small isolated floods. What I wasn’t prepared for was the devastating flooding that roared through my town soon after. Over 7 inches of rain pummeled Chapel Hill and the surrounding areas within 24 hours. Many were displaced, injured, and six people throughout the Triangle were killed.
Despite the chaos, UNC continued summer classes. Alert Carolina sent out one notification Sunday night for a severe thunderstorm warning. The University didn’t address the mass flooding until Wednesday of that week, even though many students attending summer classes had been impacted. Students felt neglected, scared, and isolated due to the lack of communication from administration.
We also cannot forget Hurricane Helene, which ripped through western Carolina a little over a year ago, setting unprecedented records of destruction. More than 100 people in North Carolina lost their lives because of the storm and communities are still recovering. These extreme and devastating weather events are exacerbated by climate change. Instead of investing into climate resiliency research, the federal government is stripping research grants away from public institutions and refusing to approve FEMA funding for the communities that have been destroyed by climate disasters.
With the Trump administration cutting necessary funds for environmental research, it is more important than ever that the UNC administration allocate substantial resources to climate solutions. As a public institution, they must serve the public by taking bold climate action. Sunrise UNC is calling on the University to retire its coal plant, stop accepting donations from and making investments with Big Oil, and provide students with a comprehensive climate education. UNC claims to serve the public but if you follow the money it flows to Big Oil and billionaires who want to maintain control over their assets. On October 10th from 11 AM to 1 PM we invite you to join Sunrise UNC on the main quad as we explore the ways climate change has devastated our state and condemn the leaders responsible for inhumane federal funding cuts.