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Virginia Tech to continue climate action efforts following US exit from Paris Agreement

By Evan Hull, environment, climate, and sustainability reporter

Solar panels at Perry Street Parking Garage.

For a second time, the U.S. is set to exit the Paris Climate Agreement, but Virginia Tech isn’t backing down from its climate action commitments.

Why it matters: As an internationally recognized institution for environmental engineering and natural resources management, Virginia Tech plays a key role in researching sustainable practices across the globe. With President Donald Trump’s signing of the “Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements” executive order, many environmental initiatives across the country are now in limbo.

The big picture: Virginia Tech will not stray away from its nearly 16-year-old Climate Action Commitment, but there may be some hurdles for researchers.

“Our impact on the environment matters to us,” said Mark Owczarski, interim vice president of communications and marketing at Virginia Tech. “It’s part of ‘Ut Prosim.’ We’re serving our community. We’re serving our students and faculty. We serve our environment because, without our environment, we can’t function.”
Carbon neutrality and 100% renewable electricity are among the goals Virginia Tech currently has set for its Blacksburg campus by 2030. It is one of many universities that remains in-tune with international climate initiatives.
“Right now, there are governors, mayors, and institutions across the U.S. saying ‘we’re still in,’ and ‘we’re going to comply with the Paris Agreement,’” said Carol Franco, senior research associate at Virginia Tech, and climate advisor to the Ministry of the Environment of the Dominican Republic.
While the university isn’t concerned about continuing their plans for a more sustainable campus, questions have been raised about research funding—particularly from the federal level.
“As faculty, we apply for funding—even departments apply for funding,” Franco said. “Having that funding will impact our availability and our capacity to do research in certain areas.”
Still in the early stages of Trump’s second administration, it remains unclear as to what environmental programs and projects will continue to receive federal funding.

Zoom in: While Virginia Tech is unwavering in its commitment to climate action initiatives, officials recognize that times of intense change can always be met with adaptability.

“The university believes that responsible stewardship of the environment is important, and that may look different from generation to generation,” Owczarski said. “The plan will continue to change, evolve, and grow over time.”
Virginia Tech’s Climate Action Commitment has been revised twice since initial approval in 2009.

World leaders celebrate the signing of the Paris Climate Agreement in Paris, Dec. 12, 2015. (Photo/Carol Franco)

Flashback: Over the last several years under the Biden administration and the Paris Agreement, U.S. sustainability plans closely resembled those of Virginia Tech.

In April 2021, Biden created a goal of reducing U.S. emissions by 50 to 52% by 2030 according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. By December 2024, the goal was changed to 61 to 66% by 2035.

What we’re watching: While Virginia Tech’s climate initiatives remain safe from federal intervention, experts from countries still in the Paris Agreement are keeping a close eye on the U.S. before they officially exit.

The U.S. will still be members of the agreement until January 26, 2025 according to Reuters.
“During the first administration of President Trump, the U.S. basically stayed on the sidelines,” Franco said, noting that United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change decisions must be made by consensus. “Now, if the idea is to stay on the sidelines, we’re going to be able to move forward. If the idea is to oppose, then we’re going to have issues.”

Double trouble: the impacts of Trump pulling out of Paris Climate Agreement, again

by: Gracie Gosier, environment reporter.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Putting America First In International Environmental Agreements,” instructing the United States to immediately pull out of the Paris Agreement on January 20, 2025.

UNFCCC at the 2015 UN climate change conference that resulted in the Paris Agreement. Photo from Britannica.

The Paris Agreement, first signed in 2015 at the UN Climate Change Conference, is a legally binding treaty where nations all over the world committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maintain the global temperature increase below 1.5°C over pre-industrial levels, in an attempt to control global warming and slow down the effects of climate change.

In September 2016, the United States and China, the world’s two greatest emitters of greenhouse gases, confirmed their combined commitment to the deal, boosting its worldwide momentum. In June 2017, President Donald Trump announced his intention to remove the United States from the Paris Agreement. The formal withdrawal procedure began in November 2019 and was completed on November 4, 2020, making the United States the first country to leave the deal. On January 20, 2021, President Joe Biden issued an executive order to rejoin the Paris Agreement, highlighting the need of combating climate change. The United States formally rejoined on February 19, 2021, reiterating its support for global climate policies.

Why it matters: Despite the fact that 2024 is the world’s hottest year on record, President Trump wants to shift the federal government away from former President Joe Biden’s climate program and toward a wider embrace of fossil fuels. Climate change raises the probability of storms, causes more severe rainfall, and increases the likelihood of intense and devastating wildfires.

During his first term, Trump fulfilled a campaign promise by withdrawing the United States from the climate accord, joining Iran, Libya, and Yemen as the only countries not part of the agreement.
When Biden resumed office in early 2021, he quickly rejoined the Paris Agreement after a brief absence of less than four months. Biden’s climate change policy focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and many of the actions taken by the Biden administration reversed or attempted to reverse the first-term policies of Donald Trump.
In 2022, Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act . The legislation allocated hundreds of billions of dollars to promote renewable energy, electric vehicles, and greener manufacturing. He also developed comprehensive new regulations to reduce pollution from automobiles and power plants during his term.
Environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club, Sunrise Movement, and Earthjustice, say that President Biden performed more environmental policy than any other president in history.

The big picture: Trump’s announcement to withdraw again from the Paris Agreement marks a return to isolationism at a moment when collective global action is most needed. Exiting the deal twice is enough to damage U.S. credibility internationally and sabotage global climate diplomacy. It would also serve as a risky model for other countries to ignore their climate obligations, which could have a cascading effect and undo the progress that has been made collectively.

Countries must submit emission reduction targets and give quarterly progress updates under the terms of the Paris Agreement. Before leaving office, Biden declared a new US goal: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60% from peak levels by 2035, which would likely require a quick transition away from fossil fuels.
During Trump’s inaugural address on January 20, 2025, he proclaimed a “national energy emergency” and urged oil companies to “drill baby, drill,” that would allow him to reverse many of Biden’s environmental regulations and open up additional places for oil and gas production on protected lands.

Donald Trump at Capitol One Arena giving his inauguration speech. Photo by USNews.com.

Zoom in: Environmental activist groups such as the POWHR Coalition, have taken the next step into fighting against the withdrawal with their own plans. Their current campaign is towards defunding the new Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP).

The MVP has been associated with several negative environmental and social impacts such as deforestation, water quality degradation, and lower property value for surrounding areas of the pipeline.
POWHR goes after JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, MUFG, TD Bank, PNC, and Wells Fargo, the top investors of the pipeline.

Zoom out: U.S Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), as well as many other experts and officials, have shown their support for the Paris Climate Agreement.

“From sea level rise in Hampton Roads and on the Eastern Shore to hurricanes in Southwest Virginia, climate change is affecting us all and threatening the safety of our communities,” said Kaine. “I’m disappointed, but not surprised, by President Trump’s short-sighted withdrawal from the Paris Accords, and that’s why I’m joining my colleagues in introducing this resolution to express support for the goals of the climate agreement. I remain committed to building on our progress in recent years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve resiliency, accelerate clean energy production, and keep Americans safe.”
The America Is All In coalition, which formed following the United States’ initial departure from the Paris Agreement, continues to motivate climate action. These initiatives have increased in power, with bipartisan leadership from the U.S. Climate Alliance, a coalition of 24 states (including Virginia) and territories that represents more than half of the US economy and committed to fulfilling the Paris Agreement’s targets.

What we’re watching: The pullout was a component of a larger plan to decrease funding for renewable energy sources and increase support for fossil fuels. The administration is giving traditional energy sectors precedence over renewable projects and underlying the significance of energy independence.

With the globe experiencing more severe climate consequences, the U.S. decision has prompted other big polluters, such as China, to reevaluate their own pledges to the Paris Agreement. Despite the U.S. position, many nations are moving forward with their climate initiatives.

Relying on fossil fuels might be detrimental to the nation’s long-term interests. The energy transition has great promise for job creation, economic vibrancy, and global competitiveness, as well as for the environmental health of the United States and the world. The U.S may find it more difficult to control those developing sectors in the future if it continues to concentrate on fossil fuels.

Claytor Lake emerges from Hurricane Helene’s aftermath

*Dublin, VA, Feb. 1, 2025 – Heavy machinery remains at Claytor Lake following the completion of cleanup efforts. Photo by Alana Powell*

by Alana Powell, environment and climate reporter

A usually serene Claytor Lake was turned into a debris-laden nightmare following Hurricane Helene back in October. Luckily, concerted efforts by federal agencies and local volunteers have successfully restored its recreational availability.

In the wake of the natural disaster, Claytor Lake was submerged under 300 acre-feet of debris, disrupting the ecosystem and local recreation. Over the past two months, the Norfolk District of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Friends of Claytor Lake have diligently removed over 27,000 cubic yards of debris and transported 6,000 tons to the landfill, concluding their efforts on Dec. 21, 2024. This extensive cleanup has not only cleared the waste and litter, but also reinstated the lake as an important community hub.

According to the USACE, this was the largest debris removal mission in Virginia since Hurricane Isabel struck in September 2003. The team provided specialized equipment such as survey vessels and hydraulic excavators to help the non-profit, Friends of Claytor Lake, with the overwhelming task.

Amanda Bishop, a ranger at Claytor Lake State Park, gave a chilling description of the lake immediately following the hurricane. “If you were here a couple of days after it hit, I personally compare it to what a horror movie kind of would look like.” She adds, “Usually when you look at the lake, you can see how the water’s moving. It was so still and debris sticking out of it and trash, propane tanks, just all kinds of people’s belongings that they didn’t think the flood would take.”

Jacob Ward, a local resident and frequent visitor, shared his initial shock at the damage. “I was so surprised. I was not expecting [the hurricane] at all and then I came here the day after and saw like everything floating in the water and I was just shocked because usually that doesn’t happen,” he recounted, highlighting the unexpected devastation to the region.

The cleanup process involved not just trash removal but also significant safety measures due to hazardous materials. “We had men in hazmat suits working to remove dangerous waste, making sure that the lake was safe for public use again,” Bishop added, indicating the complexities involved in making the area safe for visitors and wildlife.

Local businesses felt the economic impact deeply, especially those reliant on lake tourism. “There’s a guy who runs a business down here renting out boats, he was hit pretty hard,” Bishop noted, “he saw a huge decrease in funds.” This downturn reflected the broader economic challenges posed by the lake’s temporary closure.

In an inspiring display of community solidarity, volunteers of all ages offered to assist in the cleanup, specifically helping with shoreline debris. “Our local middle school came and there were like over 150 kids that showed up and asked, ‘What can we do?’ There was a lot of trash that came in with the flood and plugged our shoreline with all the rocks,” Bishop stated.

Community members found other ways to assist if they were unable to participate in clean-up efforts. Several local churches provided meals daily to those who had extensive damage or lost their homes completely along the water.

“The lake means a lot to the community. We get our electric from the dam and people from all over come to visit. It’s a relief to see it back to its normal state.” Ward added.

Photo by Alana Powell

With the cleanup complete, the park’s management has worked hard to keep the public informed. “We have a website that is, if you search Claytor Lake State Park, it comes up within DCR, which is the Department of Conservation and Recreation. We try to keep alerts on our page of what’s going on, what can you do or not do, where can you go, where can you not go, please stay out of these areas,” Bishop explained about the ongoing communication efforts to ensure visitor safety.

The reopening of Claytor Lake has been met with enthusiasm from the community, eager to return to their normal activities. “Now that we’re open again, people are coming back, eager to enjoy the lake. It’s great to see the community bounce back after such a challenging time,” Bishop concluded.

The collective efforts at Claytor Lake are a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration and community engagement, effectively addressing, and overcoming the aftermath of natural disasters to restore and strengthen communal bonds and natural resources.

Road salt raises larger questions for local waterways

By Evan Hull, environment, climate, and sustainability reporter

In response to winter weather sweeping across the east coast, the Virginia Department of Transportation deployed its usual slew of road salt. Experts say that while the popular ice and snow combatitant isn’t causing too many headaches in the NRV, it could in the future.

“Everything we do in the terrestrial environment creates ions,” said Joel Snodgrass, head of the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. “When they get in water, they dissociate, they dissolve, and they kind of pass through everything. So, if we put [salt] on the road, it gets washed into the soil, into the groundwater, and ultimately into surface waters like streams, wetlands, and lakes.”

Anywhere from 15 to 32 million metric tons of road salt are dumped on roads every year in the United States according to the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. With the NRV being geographically more susceptible to ions, such as calcium, entering groundwater systems, road salt adds another layer of complexity to the pollution problems we face.

“During the winter, you get these big spikes in salt runoff,” Snodgrass said.

Researchers worry about winter chloride spikes in local waterways, but they are more concerned about the continual elevation of groundwater contamination, which has become a global problem.

“Road salts are part of this bigger phenomenon that’s going on basically everywhere in the world, in fresh water systems, where the amount of ions in the water is increasing,” Snodgrass said. “In other words, the water is becoming more saline in nature. It has more dissolved solids in it.”

Other runoff pollutants cause issues all year long.

“It’s not just salt that comes off these roads,” Snodgrass said. “Every time someone uses their brakes, particles come off their brake pads and collect on the road—all the belts, engines, and tires.”

When heavy metals are released onto roadways, most commonly cadmium, copper, and zinc, they can interact with road salt in harmful ways. The International Erosion Control Agency says road salt mobilizes heavy metals, permitting these materials to quickly infiltrate groundwater systems and contaminate plants and wildlife.

Additionally, high concentrations of sodium can reduce the permeability of soil, increase surface runoff, and raise erosion rates, directing pollutants straight toward major waterways.

But these aren’t new issues. In fact, stormwater management facilities such as Virginia Tech’s Duck Pond and Stroubles Creek are great examples of how runoff pollution is managed in southwest Virginia.

“Stormwater management facilities in the NRV serve two purposes,” said Kafi Howard, stormwater engineer for the town of Blacksburg. “The first is to mitigate volume increases due to developments like roads and commercial buildings.”

Even in less-urbanized areas, such as the NRV, large developments increase impervious surfaces, meaning that high volumes of road salt and other harmful materials run into waterways very quickly. Stormwater management facilities help hold that water back, and slowly release it in a less harmful manner.

“There’s also quality control,” Howard continued. “A lot of newer stormwater facilities incorporate mechanisms to filter pollutants.”

Howard noted that many older stormwater facilities do not have filtering systems, noting the importance of properly functioning stormwater ponds and wetlands.

“The New River Valley has quite a few streams that are impaired, which means they are not meeting water quality standards,” Howard said. “So it’s super important that those facilities function and help reduce these pollutants.”

In localities as close as northern Virginia, we can see what happens when pollutants are unfiltered by stormwater facilities.

“In Tysons Corner, Virginia, there is enough salt going down that people are losing their wells,” Snodgrass said. “The well becomes so contaminated that all their appliances start to rust.”

The question then turns to the economy. Does keeping roads clear of ice and snow boost the economy enough to justify the cost of maintaining highly contaminated waterways?

“There’s a whole social aspect to this,” Snodgrass commented. “There’s an economic piece to this. If it snows and nobody can get to work for three days, that slows down our economy, right? Now it’s in our mentality.”

Although road salt helps lower the freezing temperature of water, keeping the roads clear and economies moving, it comes with hidden costs, and not just in the environmental price we pay. According to the EPA, NBC, and Vox, the U.S. spends an estimated $2.3 billion to apply road salt, and another $5 billion to repair infrastructure and vehicle damages annually.

With a huge price tag, several alternatives have been considered including acetate deicers and organics, both of which can release equally harmful chemicals into waterways according to the Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program. Neither option is nearly as cost-effective as road salt.

While waterways in the NRV do not currently have to give a second thought to the application of road salt, they should certainly keep a close eye out as commercial developments continue to pop up regularly, contributing to higher concentrations of pollutants entering local streams.

“I think that the consideration of road salt and stormwater management is certainly something that needs more investigation,” Howard said. “We all want clear streets and easy access in the winter, but we need to recognize that there is a price to pay for our convenience.”