Topics Related to Environmentally Speaking

A Diamond in Danger

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article was written by a University of North Carolina Wilmington undergraduate student and reflects the author’s independent perspective and experience with the Terrapin Tally project. We are pleased to share this piece in support of the author’s experience with the project, student science communication, and coastal education. 

NC's 'Carbon Footprint' takes steps toward lower emissions

Air Quality Awareness Week is the perfect time to celebrate the progress North Carolina is making toward a cleaner, healthier future! DEQ’s Division of Air Quality produces a statewide inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that represents the state’s “carbon footprint.” The 2026 update to the GHG emissions inventory provides a detailed look at emissions from human activity since 1990, along with projections of what North Carolina’s emissions could look like through 2050. 

DEQ Division of Mitigation Services restores and protects natural resources for a better tomorrow

From the mountains to the coast, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Mitigation Services has invested over $1.1 billion to protect and restore more than 758 miles of stream and over 80,000 acres of natural land in the state.  

25 Years of Wonder: Sharing the Magic of Estuaries with Ms. Lori Davis

Today, we are celebrating the incredible impact of Lori Davis as she reaches an amazing milestone of 25 years of service with the state of North Carolina.

“Ms. Lori,” as she is called by most, strives to live by this quote from Rachel Carson: “If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder without any such gift from the fairies, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.”

A Look Back at 2025: N.C. Coastal Reserve Highlights

We're wrapping up an incredible year of research, education, training, and stewardship at our 10 North Carolina Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve sites.<

Summer 2026 Internship Opportunities

Spread the word! The North Carolina Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve has four internship positions open. Interested applicants can learn more about the Reserve on our website and our social media channels.

Weatherization Drives Workforce and Economic Development

Weatherization provides benefits beyond the household. The NC Weatherization Assistance Program helps to lower carbon emissions, reduce overall strain on the electric grid, make homes more resilient to extreme weather, contribute to NC’s energy independence and drives economic development.

What is Weatherization and Why it Matters

Weatherization is a cost-effective way to increase household energy efficiency, potentially saving households hundreds of dollars per year. But it’s more than just saving money. Weatherization improves indoor air quality, reduces health risks, decreases greenhouse gas emissions, makes homes more resilient and strengthens communities by creating local jobs and supporting energy equity.

Summer 2025 N.C. Coastal Reserve Interns

Interns in our Northern, Central, and Southern offices completed their internships this month. We asked them to reflect on their summer experiences. Keep reading to hear how their internship experiences shaped them, they've got some great stories to share!

In time for National Water Quality Month, NCDEQ highlights a key water quality protection tool

In certain waterways in North Carolina, the state requires residents and landowners to maintain riparian buffers or areas of vegetation. Specifically, there are six distinct areas with buffer protections in North Carolina: alongside the Catawba River and its mainstem lakes, in the Goose Creek watershed, in the Jordan Lake and Randleman Lake watersheds, and in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico River basins.