Yes, the Tar Heel State is facing a $2 billion budget shortfall, but no situation is dire enough to curb our financial commitment to fighting the giant hobgoblin of climate change, right?

The N.C. Division of Air Quality wants to create 11 new positions devoted to global warming. From DAQ spokesman Tom Mather:

DAQ has submitted a request to the Department of Environment & Natural Resources for 11 new positions dealing with climate change issues. This request will have to go through the normal channels — that is, DENR will decide whether to include in its request to the Governor. If the Governor concurs, it would be included in her budget request to the General Assembly. Then the legislature would need to approve it. When that all happens is open to question.

Meanwhile, state government agencies have been directed to come up with strategies for reducing their budgets by as much as 7 percent. Why do I suspect that green endeavors will be spared the axe?