Orange County NC Website
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22 <br /> Nestled in the hills of the North Carolina Piedmont, Orange County is located <br /> between the Research Triangle Park and the Triad cities of Greensboro, <br /> Winston-Salem and High Point. There are an estimated 153,166 residents with <br /> a growth rate of 0.9% in the past year according to the most recent United <br /> States census data. Orange County includes historic Hillsborough, the county <br /> seat; Chapel Hill, home of the University of North Carolina; and Carrboro and <br /> Mebane, former railroad and mill towns.The County encompasses 400 square <br /> miles of rolling farms and forest, vital urban centers and small towns. Orange <br /> County combines the best of cosmopolitan and rural values with an abundance <br /> of historical, social and cultural resources. <br /> Recognizing the need for urgent and ambitious climate action based on <br /> public concern and scientific evidence, Orange County saw the imperative <br /> to systematize and accelerate efforts. This 2023 CAP represents the next <br /> step, unifying existing climate work under one strategic umbrella to equitably <br /> transition Orange County to a low-carbon, climate-resilient community. <br /> In response to the need for a formal CAP, a Climate Action Team sub <br /> committee assembled to lead the planning process. This sub committee <br /> has representatives from 17 county-wide departments including Asset <br /> Management Services, the Budget office, Emergency Services and the <br /> Health department to name a few.The group is led by a full time Sustainability <br /> Manager who keeps the County's Board of Commissioners updated on <br /> progress. <br /> APPROACH <br /> Climate actions are not isolated events. They require collaboration and cross- <br /> cutting strategies across multi-jurisdictions, public agencies, nonprofits, <br /> commercial businesses and residential communities. This CAP emerged as <br /> a result of an extensive review of both environmental state mandates, the <br /> commitments of local and regional jurisdictions, and existing public private <br /> partnership structures. The County leveraged existing planning commitments <br /> wherefeasible and integrated new strategy elements totailorthisplan uniquely <br /> to the County. <br /> The County has committed to working with state, regional and local partners <br /> to maximize our impact through collective planning and implementation of <br /> climate initiatives. Some of the ways Orange County engages are: <br /> •STATE PLANNING <br /> • REGIONAL PLANNING <br /> •LOCAL PLANNING <br /> 2023 CLIMATE ACTION PLAN ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 19 <br />