New climate group in Wilmington ready to tackle PFAS and more

The local chapter of the Climate Reality Project aims to teach people on how to engage their neighbors and officials on important environmental issues

Toothless. Shameful. Embarrassing.

“This commission wrote a love letter to polluters,” said Emily Donovan, cofounder of local environmental advocacy group Clean Cape Fear, to thunderous applause from the more than 200 people who packed the meeting room in the Skyline Center.

When the N.C. Environmental Management Commission came to Wilmington in late April 2026 to hold a public hearing on proposed PFAS monitoring and minimization rules, commission members and staff heard an earful from dozens of frustrated residents who have felt angered and to some degree abandoned by state regulators since the StarNews in 2017 first reported the presence of unknown chemicals in their drinking water.

The proposed rules wouldn’t set penalties or specific limits for businesses found to be discharging the “forever chemicals” into the environment, instead requiring industry to largely self-regulate itself − something speaker after speaker on April 23 said simply wouldn’t work.

Environmental activism, especially about issues like climate change and industrial regulations, have been largely on the defensive since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.

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In the past 16 months the Trump administration has moved aggressively to shrink the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; water down rules protecting wetlands; moved to shut down offshore wind farms; and remove or reduce regulations protecting air and water quality. Many state legislatures controlled by Republicans, including in Raleigh, have largely mirrored the direction of Washington, stating the moves are needed to reduce bureaucratic red tape and stimulate the economy.

But the latest report by the Yale Climate Opinion Maps found that 72% of Americans think global warming is happening. In the Wilmington metro area 61% of adults were found to be somewhat or very worried about global warming, 2% below the national average. The figure was higher by several percentage points in New Hanover than Brunswick and Pender counties.

Environmentalists and community activists say big turnouts like for the PFAS hearing last month show there’s still an appetite − and frustration − to galvanize a community to demand change, or at least hear their voices.

That’s prompted a group of Wilmington activists to form a new organization dedicated to equipping people with the skill to talk about climate change and other environmental issues in a way that moves others − including state and local officials − to act.

“Climate Reality in general is really focused on how to inform people, educate them to talk to their neighbors in a way that they can really understand instead of just reacting to what’s in the news or on social media,” said James Fischer, co-chair of the new Cape Fear Chapter of the Climate Reality Project.

The project, founded and chaired by former Vice President Al Gore, aims to “recruit, train, and mobilize people of all walks of life to work for just climate solutions that speed energy transition worldwide and open the door to a better tomorrow for us all.”

Fischer said the chapter intends to collaborate with other climate-focused groups across North Carolina − including existing Climate Reality chapters in Raleigh, Durham and Charlotte − to track legislation, consolidate policy efforts, and raise awareness about impending decisions that could impact the Wilmington area’s coastal environment.

Several local issues the new group intends to focus on include the huge proposed Sledge Forest planned development in northern New Hanover County and the county’s 2050 long-range comprehensive plan, especially when it comes to flooding.

“We don’t want to take on too much right away, because then you just get bogged down and can quickly become overwhelmed,” Fischer said. “But we want to give people these tool kits and most importantly identify courses of action where they can make a difference and be heard, like at those PFAS comment sessions.”

The local chapter intends to hold a training event on May 17, which will double as the group’s first general meeting.

“Please come and join our growing community of people that are ready and willing to act,” Fischer said. “Let’s talk about climate change. Let’s talk about the facts. Let’s get some people thinking about it.”

The Climate Reality Cape Fear Chapter local training event, being held at the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Center for Marine Science, will take place from 2-5 p.m. on May 17. Light refreshments will be provided. To secure a spot, go to https://luma.com/55qi8jqq or email Connect@climaterealitycapefear.org. Information also is available by calling 910-632-0897.

Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at GMcGrath@usatodayco.com or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from Journalism Funding Partners. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work.