Just in the past three years, the Trump administration has attempted to roll back at least 95 environmental rules and regulations to the detriment of the environment and Americans’ public health. Moreover, the administration refuses to act to mitigate the effects of climate change—instead loosening requirements for polluters emitting the greenhouse gases that fuel the climate crisis. This dangerous agenda is affecting the lives of Americans across all 50 states.
Between 2017 and 2019, New Hampshire experienced one winter storm. The damages of the event led to losses of at least $1 billion.
Impacts of climate change
Extreme weather
- New Hampshire’s sea level has risen by 7 inches since 1950, and forecasts project that by 2032, the sea level will have risen another 6 inches. New Hampshire is preparing to spend more than $600,000 on sea level rise solutions.
- In 2015, a large winter storm and associated cold wave affected New Hampshire and surrounding areas, causing at least 30 deaths and more than $1 billion in estimated damages.
- Every New Hampshire resident lives in a county that has been affected by at least one federally declared weather disaster since 2010.
Temperature
- New Hampshire currently experiences approximately 10 days per year when heat exceeds dangerous levels, but projections indicate that number will quadruple to 40 days per year by 2050. This endangers the lives of the more than 20,000 people in New Hampshire who are especially vulnerable to extreme heat.
- Between 1895 and 2015, the annual mean temperature in New Hampshire increased by about 6 degrees Fahrenheit—higher than the rise in global mean temperature. In the next 50 to 60 years, New Hampshire’s average summer and winter temperatures are projected to increase by more than 5 degrees Fahrenheit relative to preindustrial levels.
Impacts of the Trump administration’s anti-environmental policies
Climate
- In March 2020, the Trump administration announced its final rule to overturn Obama-era fuel efficiency standards for cars. These weakened fuel standards will lead to higher greenhouse gas and particulate matter emissions and will cost New Hampshire residents $87 million
- The Trump administration is attempting to gut climate considerations from major infrastructure projects by eliminating the “cumulative impact” requirement of the National Environmental Policy Act. This is concerning because New Hampshire’s economy relies heavily on its tourism and outdoor recreation industries, both of which are highly dependent on climate and weather conditions.
- Tourism: In 2017, tourism in New Hampshire directly supported 47,900 jobs and generated $1.4 billion in earnings.
- Outdoor recreation: The outdoor recreation industry in New Hampshire generates 79,000 direct jobs and nearly $9 billion in consumer spending.
Air quality
- Mercury emissions in New Hampshire decreased by nearly 84 percent from 2011 to 2017, yet the Trump administration just undermined limits on the amount of mercury and other toxic emissions that are allowed from power plants.
To read the personal stories of Americans affected by climate change and the impacts of the Trump administration’s anti-environmental policies in your state, visit OurEnvironment.org.