Washington, D.C. — The impacts of climate change are increasingly evident across the United States, and these effects have not stopped for a pandemic. In the past few decades, the country has experienced increasingly rising sea levels, more frequent wildfires, stronger hurricanes, more severe winter storms, and rapidly fluctuating temperatures. These extreme weather events and other climate effects have real costs for Americans: From 2017 to 2019, there were 44 unique extreme weather and climate events with damages that totaled $1 billion or more, costing the United States more than $460 billion.
Today, on the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day, the Center for American Progress is launching a new project aimed at highlighting how Americans in states across the country are experiencing climate change differently—and how they are being affected by the Trump administration’s regulatory rollbacks—in their own words.
“President Donald Trump’s administration is continuing to push its anti-environment agenda on the American people while ignoring their calls for clean air, clean water, and a healthy climate,” said Hannah Malus, campaign manager for the Energy and Energy and Environment War Room at the Center for American Progress. “In just one term in office, the Trump administration has attempted to roll back at least 95 environmental rules and regulations—placing the priorities of polluters and fossil fuel lobbyists over the health and future of Americans. Now, people across the United States are raising their voices to share how they are personally affected by these attacks and demanding change.”
This interactive website features the stories of Americans across all 50 states whose lives are being affected by climate change and the Trump administration’s dangerous agenda. Here is a sample of the Americans speaking out:
- “In Plateau, Alabama, the Black community is suffering from toxic pollution emitted from a nearby paper mill. The paper company does not show any concern for its neighbors, who are dying from cancer.” – Tommy G., Mobile, Alabama
- “As I approach retirement, I’m concerned about how the changes in weather are affecting my financial stability. With hotter temperatures, we use more air conditioning—which makes our utility bills incredibly expensive. We need to address climate change or our senior citizens will be forced into poverty.” – Eileen A., Henderson, Nevada
- “As a pregnant woman who was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum, I have been unable to eat the one food that appeals to me—fish. The mercury and toxins that wind up in fish from polluted water are so prevalent that pregnant women are advised to avoid eating it. It’s upsetting that the one food I want right now is tainted by pollutants and therefore unhealthy for me and my child.” – Jacquelyn B., Netcong, New Jersey
The interactive website also links to facts about each state’s climate costs under the Trump administration as well as other expected climate impacts, including extreme weather, temperature changes, impacts to core industries and more. After exploring how their state is being affected by climate change, visitors to the site are encouraged to share their own story.
For more information or to view stories from all the states included, please visit OurEnvironment.org.
To speak with any of the storytellers, please contact Ari Drennen at [email protected]