Ben Chou, Water Policy Analyst, Washington, D.C. Growing up in
the Upstate area of South Carolina, my family and I oftentimes
made the short trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, the most
visited of all the national parks. We would play in the cool
streams, hike on the trails, and gawk at the wildlife we
encountered. Nearly 20 years later, I still recall fondly much
of my time spent there. However, climate change could render
those childhood memories a relic of the past for future
generations and imperil the way of life for many in the
Volunteer State. The Sustainable Tennessee Organization, a group
of researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, state
universities, and the state Department of Health, recently
released a new report. It summarizes current research on the
potential impacts of climate change on the people, communities,
economy, and natural resources of Tennessee. Here are just a few
of the group’s findings: - The state’s major cities have warmed
approximately 2°F since 1950. - Extreme rainfall e