November 29, 2023

About North Carolina Tracking Program

The North Carolina (NC) Tracking Program’s mission is to empower communities by providing data and context to inform data driven policies, funding, and solutions to build a healthier and more equitable environment for all North Carolinians.

Background

North Carolina has experienced rapid population growth over the past 30 years. According to the U.S. Census, the state population grew from 6.7 million in 1990 to 10.4 million in 2020.

North Carolina has several diverse ecosystems. These different locations attract tourists and retirees alike. Unfortunately, these ecosystems and the people who live in them are threatened by flooding, hurricanes, extreme heat, and wildfires.

Education, science, and technology are among the largest industries in North Carolina. Manufacturing and retail follow closely. Animal production and agriculture also remain economically important. An estimated 9 million hogs and 961 million chickens were raised in North Carolina in 2020.

Warren County is known as the birthplace of the environmental justice movement. Environmental justice issues in North Carolina include landfills, odors and waste from animal production, coal ash from energy production, odors and waste from paper mills, and failing private wells and septic systems.

Important things to know

The program's core functions include the following.

Monitor environmental health and climate indicators over space and time
Map resources to strengthen community resilience against climate hazards
Examine community characteristics and vulnerabilities that lead to inequitable exposures and subsequent disproportionate health outcomes
Report findings to partners through education and outreach
Collaborate with community, government, and research partners to interpret findings and inform actions that promote health equity

Unique Data

All state and local tracking programs collect and display a set of standard data. But individual programs may host other data that are important to their populations. NC Tracking hosts data on climate, social determinants of health, chemical and other toxic incidents, and carbon monoxide poisoning.