NORTH CAROLINA — Researchers in our state say climate change will have severe effects in the next 80 years if we don't stop emitting heat-trapping gases.

This information comes from the North Carolina Climate Science Report, released March 11.

The report says sea levels will rise, days and nights will get hotter and more humid, and heavy rains from hurricanes will be more frequent and more intense.

One of the authors of the report, Kenneth Kunkel, said these changes are not simply a part of a cycle.

"There are cycles that have occurred in the past, but what we're seeing currently has only one explanation, and that is the increasing greenhouse gas concentrations," said Kunkel.

This research supports Governor Roy Cooper's Executive Order 80, "North Carolina's Commitment to Address Climate Change and Transition to a Clean Energy Economy."