FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 12, 2019

CHAPEL HILL, NC - A launch event will be held June 17, 2019 from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at the Chapel Hill Public Library (100 Library Drive) to announce the launch of the Climate Action Coalition of Orange County (CACOC). Seven non-profit organizations are joining together to form the Coalition, a dedicated alliance working for meaningful climate action through local education, advocacy, on-line resources and local events. CACOC leaders will follow local policy discussions and encourage advocacy on local issues related to the coalition’s mission.

Member Organizations:

• Bicycle Alliance of Chapel Hill

• Carrboro Bicycle Coalition

• Clean Air Carolina

• NEXT Chapel Hill-Carrboro

• NC Sierra Club’s Orange-Chatham Group

• NC WARN

• Southern Environmental Law Center

CACOC-allied organizations will work to help our community become more educated about the need for a swift transition to clean energy solutions and how to take meaningful actions to do so. The main focus will be on advancing bold policies for transportation and energy use, as the two largest categories of climate changing emissions, as well as creative land use solutions, as the critical driver for vehicle miles traveled. With these goals and objectives, the coalition aims to help individuals, businesses, and our town and county governments in Orange County become leaders in climate change action in North Carolina.

Community members can subscribe to the Coalition’s updates to receive information about local resources, educational events, and opportunities to take action on climate change in Orange County, NC: http://bit.ly/CACOC

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ABOUT CACOC MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

BICYCLE ALLIANCE OF CHAPEL HILL 

BACH works to channel interest & support in bicycling in Chapel Hill, advocate with local community leadership and safety personnel to implement the Bike Master Plan, foster a bike friendly culture in town, and organize cycling related events. Bicycling offers a healthy and fun alternative, emissions-free mode of transportation.

CARRBORO BIKE COALITION 

The Carrboro Bike Coalition works to create a bicycle friendly community through cycling awareness, education, safety advocacy and promotion of bicycling for transportation, recreation, fitness, and a livable future. Bicycling offers a healthy and fun alternative, emissions-free mode of transportation.

CLEAN AIR CAROLINA 

Clean Air Carolina works to ensure cleaner air quality for all North Carolinians through education and advocacy and by working with our partners to reduce sources of pollution. Addressing climate change and transitioning to a clean energy economy are critical to our state’s environmental leadership and to the improvement of our state’s air quality goals.

NEXT CHAPEL HILL - CARRBORO 

NEXT works to advocate for purposeful community changes that affect our built environment and community culture. Our priorities include promoting economic opportunities for residents of all income levels, expanding housing choices, and advocating for car-free transportation options. We believe these priorities will help to build equity and alleviate climate change.

NC SIERRA CLUB’S ORANGE-CHATHAM GROUP

The Sierra Club is the most enduring and influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. We amplify the power of our members and supporters to defend everyone’s right to a healthy world. The NC Sierra Club works to encourage actions and policies that help communities in eastern NC prepare for and mitigate the damage that a changing climate may cause. Orange-Chatham Group reaches over 1,500 members. 

NC WARN 

NC WARN is working to tackle the accelerating crisis posed by climate change by building people power for a swift North Carolina transition to clean power, and by promoting energy and climate justice. NC Clean Path 2025 is our statewide grassroots campaign working county-by-county to replace fossil fuels with local solar, battery storage and energy-saving programs by 2030, and get halfway there by 2025. 

SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER 

SELC uses the power of the law to champion the environment of the Southeast. With offices in Chapel Hill, our team of more than 80 dedicated attorneys stands up for all the things you love about this special region—clean water, healthy air, mountains and forests, the coast. Recognizing that the South is central to any solution to global warming, SELC seeks to prevent further construction of coal-fired power plants in the Southeast; to retire old, dirty, coal-burning plants; and to increase investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.