Virginia's dying marshes and climate change denial

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

6 June 2012 Last updated at 00:12 GMT

Virginia's dying marshes and climate change denial

By Daniel Nasaw
BBC News Magazine, York River, Virginia

Dying wetland trees along Virginia's coastline are evidence that rising sea levels threaten nature and humans, scientists say - and show the limits of political action amid climate change scepticism.

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But in Virginia's state capital Richmond, as in Washington, many politicians remain sceptical about the extent to which humans are responsible for global warming.

They fear measures needed to curb climate change would hurt the economy, threaten private property, and harm commercial and industrial interests.

"Here in Virginia there is very little political will to address the mitigation side of things - reducing our carbon footprint, reducing greenhouse gas emissions," says Carl Hershner, who studies coastal resources management at the Virginia Institute for Marine Sciences.

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Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17915958

[kestrel91316]

1. When the ecosystems die, we will die. I think that's probably for the best.

We don't deserve a life on this planet - or any other for that matter.

[handmade34]

2. "hurt the economy, threaten private property..."?

so sad that people don't understand our entire existence is dependant on a strong healthy natural environment...

they (skeptics; politicians) have become pompous idiots not capable of understanding the delicate balance of nature

[RobertEarl]

3. Reminds me of a place I grew up

A barely above high tide jungle forest on the gulf coast. Green as could be for miles and miles.

Now it is dead brown. Millions of dead trees for miles and miles.

Salt water rising flooded and killed the fresh water needing trees.

I saw it first hand 5 years ago.