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Climate change has already had a major impact on Maine. According to sealevel.org, sea level at Bar Harbor has risen by eight inches since 1950. Over the next 16 years it is projected to rise another six inches, based on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This increased sea level will further add to the kind of storm damage that we have seen recently along the Maine coast.
The intensity of storms is also increasing, leading to greater storm surges along the Gulf Coast and severe flooding elsewhere. Fortunately, flooding has generally been limited in Maine, but severe damage has occurred in parts of western Maine. For these and many other reasons, it is urgent that we bring climate change to a halt as rapidly as possible.
If Donald Trump is elected, I expect he will do nothing to combat climate change, and may even halt our current efforts to delay its progress. I think he will slash federal programs in this area and will support industries and corporations regardless of whether they contribute to climate change or other degradation of the environment. In addition, do we really want to elect an egotistic old man as president?
John Tjepkema
Orono
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