For five years, the Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change has been studying the issue that used to be called global warming. And while we agree with Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, that "the issue is not going away," the commission should go away. That’s because there are already other avenues already in place to address any climate change issues.

If climate change is resulting in a sea level rise and putting highways near the coast in peril, then the issue can be addressed by state committees studying transportation issues. Both the House and the Senate have their respective transportation committees that meet regularly when the General Assembly is in session. And there’s an oversight committee that meets periodically when it’s not in session.

If we need to change the standards on our electricity companies, look at tax policies regarding companies promoting energy efficiency or review other environmental regulations, then we have committees set up for that too.

We have commerce, public utilities and environment committees set up to take into account different aspects of environmental policy.

Bob Slocum, a climate change commission member who is executive vice president of the N.C. Forestry Association, said he felt the makeup of the commission predetermined the outcome of much of its work. He said he didn’t feel like commission members were trying to take an objective look at science related to climate change and develop policy recommendations from that standpoint. That doesn’t speak well for the body.

If Congress passes some sort of climate change legislation, states will likely be charged with implementing the particulars of that legislation. But that’s been done before through the normal process.

The state already has a Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which makes policy recommendations, enforces environmental law and reports to the governor.

With all these process in place in both the executive and legislative branches of state government, we see no need to continue a study commission just to look at the climate change issue.