With the wounds still fresh from Superstorm Sandy, some New Yorkers wary of Trump's decision to ditch climate deal

Record ID: 877786

  • Title: With the wounds still fresh from Superstorm Sandy, some New Yorkers wary of Trump's decision to ditch climate deal
  • Date: 2nd June 2017
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JUNE 2, 2017) (REUTERS) OCEAN WAVES AT ROCKAWAY BEACH VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT THE BEACH WAVES OVER SAND ROCKAWAY BEACH RESIDENT, EDUAR MEDINA WALKING HIS DOG (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROCKAWAY BEACH RESIDENT, EDUAR MEDINA, SAYING: "It's a serious issue, something that everyone should be aware of. It's not an idea or something that won't happen. It is happening right now and we're seeing it. We just don't want to act on it." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROCKAWAY BEACH RESIDENT, ANNE, SAYING: "I think New York is in great danger. The sea levels are rising. There's no way to control the water levels around from the ocean. Mother Nature has control, and I do think we are harming it in a lot of ways." LIFEGUARD TOWER AT THE BEACH SAND DUNE GRASS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON BOARDWALK (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROCKAWAY BEACH RESIDENT, EDUAR MEDINA, ROCKAWAY BEACH RESIDENT, SAYING: "That's a huge step back. I think the only two countries that are not a part of that agreement are Syria and Nicaragua. I don't know how that makes us look in front of everyone else. But it is a big issue, and we should be leading instead of going back and saying no we're not going to do anything about it. We're just going to let it happen." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROCKAWAY BEACH RESIDENT, SERGIO, SAYING: "This guy, I don't know. I don't know. He's running this beautiful country. I don't know how he got it. But I hope he changes his ways and thinks about all this, thinks about his child, not about him, not about what is going on right now, about the future, what's going on, what's going to happen with everybody, his kids' kids. I don't know, it's a little selfish to just think about right now. I think we should think about the future. And it's a beautiful world. Let's keep it like this." VARIOUS OF HOMES IN ROCKAWAY BEACH
  • Embargoed: 16th June 2017 22:27
  • Keywords: environment Paris agreement Trump climate change Sandy
  • Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • City: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Environment,Climate Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016JL7IVB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Residents of a New York City neighborhood hit hard by Superstorm Sandy in 2012 said on Friday (June 2) fear unchecked climate change could lead to more devastation in the area.
    "I think New York is in great danger. The sea levels are rising. There's no way to control the water levels around from the ocean. Mother Nature has control and I do think we are harming it in a lot of ways," said Anne, a resident of Rockaway Beach.
    In October 2012, the gigantic storm - a hurricane nearly 1,000 miles (1,600 km.) wide that combined with another storm system and came ashore with high tide under a full moon - brought a record seawater surge that inundated lower Manhattan and tore up neighborhoods in far-flung areas such as the Rockaways area on Queens, New York.
    On Thursday (June 1), U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he would withdraw the United States from the landmark 2015 global agreement to fight climate change.
    "That's a huge step back," said Rockaway Beach resident Eduar Medina. "It's a big issue and we should be leading instead of going back and saying no we're not going to do anything about it. We're just going to let it happen."
    "It's a little selfish to just think about right now. I think we should think about the future. And it's a beautiful world. Let's keep it like this," added Rockaway resident Sergio.
    After Superstorm Sandy, New York City officials said more than $140 million (USD) was invested to repair and restore Rockaway Beach after parts of it washed away in the storm. A stronger boardwalk was built and protective barriers were added to prevent flooding.
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