news-record.com

People from all over North Carolina are expected to rally on Saturday in support of federal and international legislation that limit carbon emissions and pave the way for an American transition to an economy powered by renewable energy.

In Winston-Salem, a grassroots group called Citizens Acting for Renewable Energy (CARE) will gather on street corners throughout the city and collect pledges from residents committing to take personal action to lower their emissions. The group will show a related environmental film that night and later send the list of pledges to U.S. Senators Kay Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat, and Richard Burr, a Winston-Salem Republican.

“I think that the first step is for people to be aware of their actions on a personal level,” said Cynthia Silber, an event organizer who hopes to gather 1,000 pledges. “But in terms of laws, you might need legislation that makes people do things they should be doing voluntarily.”

More than 4,000 activities in 168 countries are planned for the International Day for Climate Action, a campaign to lower the concentration of carbon dioxide molecules to 350 parts per million, the level scientists identified as the safe upper limit in the atmosphere. Saturday’s events come in advance of a December gathering in Denmark where political leaders from all over the world will resume negotiations of a comprehensive and binding global warming treaty.

U.S. lawmakers also plan to consider bills that seek to reduce carbon emissions and reduce dependence of foreign oil while investing in clean energy jobs, new technologies and worker training, and providing rebates that offset rising energy prices for low-income residents. On Tuesday, activists with Environment North Carolina visited Hagan’s Greensboro office to get her support for the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, sponsored by Democratic Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer. Members of the environmental organization also dropped off more than 600 letters from North Carolina citizens and business owners who back the legislation.

“Sen. Hagan has not yet taken a position on it,” said Courtney Abrams, a representative of Environment North Carolina’s national office. “We just want to make sure we come out front with support and that she knows it.”