Our world is getting warmer every day. Whether from scorching summer
days, low snowfall or rising sea levels, New Hampshire has seen its fair share of climate change effects. The $107 million replacement of the Neil R. Underwood Memorial Bridge proves just how detrimental these effects could be.
Having long been on N.H.’s “red list,” a list of poor-condition bridges requiring inspection and/or replacement, the 75-year-old bridge crossing the inlet of Hampton Harbor to Seabrook is finally undergoing repair.
Expected to be done by 2027, the new design is built anticipating “four feet of sea level rise,” according to an InDepthNH article.
Aside from sounding like a rock band, which is what they should be instead, former Gov. Chris Sununu and the Executive Board approved the contract last spring, understanding the design and the impacts causing it.
It is clear from their approval that they are not denying climate change as a real issue. However, in some ways, they still are.
Seabrook and Hampton Beach are flat. Being only 10 feet above sea level, four feet of sea level rise would be catastrophic to these towns. Additionally, the bridge only prepares for these four feet, while sea level rise will continue much past that.
Unsurprisingly, Sununu vetoed a bill to create a statewide council on resilience just four months after approving the bridge. This council would have collaborated on strategies and ideas to address the effects of climate change and made state-wide efforts to fix it.
With Gov. Kelly Ayotte taking office this January, she has little change and is expected to follow in Sununu’s footsteps. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement also sets the United States even further back.
The Paris Agreement, much like the statewide council rejected by Sununu, ties nations together to take action against climate change and educate others about adapting to its effects.
True, this shows little hope for N.H. politically, but not all hope is lost. Small daily efforts can make a huge impact on the health of our state climate.
Conserving energy and water, reducing waste and educating yourself about climate change will all benefit the environment.
These can be done through simple habits like turning off lights when you leave your dorm, taking shorter showers or turning off the water when brushing your teeth.
You can also find ways to reuse products instead of frequently throwing things away. One silicone snack bag equals 260 plastic bags per year. A stainless steel water bottle will last you much longer than a plastic one. A reusable shopping bag will save you countless plastic items at the grocery store.
Many of these things are often seen as expensive, which can be hard for college students to afford. However, reusable products will save you time, money and energy in the long run and are worth investing in for both yourself and your planet.
It is vital to educate yourself about climate change before forming an opinion. There is no denying that climate change is impacting our world, let alone our campus. Understanding the impacts can make it easier to understand ways to help or how to educate others on the issue.
Climate change is something that should be expected, not accepted. The effects need to be addressed by both our government and society, with initiatives being taken to reverse the damage to our planet and preserve a future of sunny July days on Hampton Beach.
Jaden Johnson can be contacted at
