Here in Massachusetts, climate science denial may be politically toxic, but when it comes to accelerating sea level rise fueled by global warming, some local officials are just as in denial about as their science-denying counterparts in North Carolina.
Climate Central has an interactive sea level rise tool showing how even 5 feet of sea level rise – virtually guaranteed by the carbon pollution we’ve already put into the atmosphere – will put more than 10,000 homes under water on the Southcoast alone. As Ariel Wittenberg reports in the Standard-Times, many local officials are governing as though the threat doesn’t exist:
Asked about the maps, most SouthCoast municipalities say they have dealt with flooding issues as they happen, and have not made plans to combat or adapt to climate change and sea level rise specifically.
In Dartmouth, for example, Town Administrator David Cressman said he and the police chief are “aware of the vulnerabilities” of the police station, which was renovated 10 years ago.
“At times I wondered why they were doing that if it is in a flood zone,” he said.
In my town of Fairhaven, where Sconticut Neck is set to become an island, austerity means kicking the can down the beach for future generations to clean up:
[Fairhaven Chairman of the Selectmen Bob Espindola] added it’s difficult to think about investing town money in mitigating climate change.
“It’s something that is not right on our doorstep and we are thinking about balancing our budget and keeping from making significant cuts,” he said.
Screw the grandkids, I want my property taxes cut now!
Cross-posted from The Green Miles
I don’t believe anyone is really thinking “screw the grandkids,” even though that will be the effect of current inattention. If town and regional planners can be made aware of the inevitability of rising sea-levels, I’m sure they’ll try to do right. Awareness among the general public is needed, too.
But the cause is certainly the desire to pay less than their fair share, and the effect is most certainly screwing the grandkids.