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Climate and Environment

Andrea Chu
Freelance Writer
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piqer: Andrea Chu
Tuesday, 22 August 2017

Trump Continues to Axe Climate Change Policies

Donald Trump has been dismantling key elements of environmental and health protections at an alarming rate. One of the Obama-era provisions will prove detrimental to his beloved Mar-a-Lago resort: "a 2015 directive to federal agencies requiring them to account for sea-level rise and storms when making grants and building infrastructure. The so-called federal flood risk management standard was still in the works, but the aim was to create design standards to guard against increased flood risks for new construction in flood-prone areas. Trump did away with it in his executive order on infrastructure on Tuesday."

Now, new infrastructure is not required to consider the projected increase in flooding over the next few decades, and many fear that new projects may be particularly vulnerable. Southern Florida, where sea level is expected to increase the most in the continental US, could see rises of between 7 to 12 feet by 2100. This would drown places like Miami entirely. Mar-a-Lago, the "crown jewel" of Trump's real estate fortune and much-frequented vacation spot, is very much in range of oncoming flooding. Already, it is at high risk of flooding during heavy rains. "Plus, in the next 30 years, they estimated there will be 210 days a year where Mar-a-Lago will be flooded with at least a foot of water." 

But for now, Trump and his administration are still in deep denial about climate change and its effects. He continually removes any legislation used to address it, and has even tamped down on scientists' freedom to discuss it. "In June, he reportedly told the mayor of Tangier Island, Virginia, which is losing up to 16 feet of coastline a year, that there was no need to worry about sea-level rise." It is likely that Mar-a-Lago may have to go underwater before he changes his tune, if ever. 

Trump Continues to Axe Climate Change Policies
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