Climate Reality Cape Fear

Climate Reality Cape Fear is a newly chartered local chapter of The Climate Reality Project serving New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender Counties in the Wilmington, NC area. We are laser-focused on policy — engaging the NC General Assembly and local governments with an organized, informed constituent voice — while communicating the latest climate science in ways that move people to act. We know no single organization moves the needle alone, so we are committed to working alongside fellow climate and environmental organizations across the region: consolidating policy efforts, tracking legislation jointly, and joining forces with the specialists and grassroots networks already doing this work. The urgency is clear — rising temperatures, intensifying rainfall, and sea levels projected to rise 10–12 more inches by 2050 put our coast, our river, and our communities at risk. We can only achieve real action by building strength in numbers.

Who We Are

• Climate Reality Cape Fear is the Cape Fear Region's newest local chapter of The Climate Reality Project — the global organization founded by Al Gore following his landmark documentary An Inconvenient Truth
• We are a nonpartisan, community-driven chapter serving residents of New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender Counties
• We are led by community volunteers who are trained, credentialed members of the Climate Reality Leadership Corps

What We Do

• Engage elected officials at the NC General Assembly, county commissions, and city hall with science-based, constituent-driven advocacy
• Communicate the latest climate science in ways that are clear, accurate, and actionable for everyday people
• Train community members to become effective climate advocates — at no cost
• Track and analyze climate-related legislation affecting our region
• Build connections across the region's growing network of environmental and civic organizations

Our Values

• Science first — every position we take is grounded in peer-reviewed data and credible local research
• Nonpartisan — our work is driven by facts and community need, not party affiliation
• Collaborative — we believe no single organization moves the needle alone; we actively partner with and amplify the work of allied organizations
• Transparent and accessible — our events are free and open to the public; our advocacy is clearly sourced

Whom We Serve

• Residents across New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender Counties who are concerned about the future of their homes, neighborhoods, and coastline
• Community members who want to get involved but aren't sure where to start
• Environmental and civic organizations seeking policy coordination and a stronger collective voice
• Policymakers who need organized, informed constituent input on climate-related legislation

Why It Matters Here

• Our region is already changing: average summer highs are up nearly 3°F, extreme rainfall events are more frequent, sea levels are rising twice as fast as a century ago, and high-tide flooding has increased more than 500% since 2000
• By mid-century, Wilmington's climate is projected to feel more like Baton Rouge or Biloxi — unless we act now
• PFAS and 1,4-dioxane contamination in the Cape Fear River Basin pose additional public health risks that demand policy attention