These Parts of the US Face the Greatest Climate Risk

Multiple counties in Louisiana are looking at a dire situation, while Vermont offers possible refuge
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 8, 2021 12:01 PM CDT
Updated Sep 11, 2021 8:00 AM CDT
These Parts of the US Face the Greatest Climate Risk
Could this be a good portion of Louisiana in the decades to come?   (Getty Images/piyaset)

If you've been looking for a reason to move to the Northeast, this might catch your attention. After the recent bleak climate report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which notes a worrisome decade ahead in terms of global warming and its effects on the Earth, Quartz asks the following question: "In such a grim future scenario, where will be as safe and habitable as today?"

ProPublica and the New York Times looked at data provided by the Rhodium Group, examining everything from sea level rise to temperatures across the United States to figure out the most and least at-risk counties to live in, using projections for the years 2040 to 2060. The northeastern part of the country seems like a literally and metaphorically cool place to consider, with spots in Maine, Vermont, and New York ranking in the top 10, while five of the most concerning counties turn up in Louisiana. Check out the rankings below:

Most At-Risk Counties

  • Beaufort County, SC
  • Pinal County, Ariz.
  • St. Martin Parish, La.
  • Colleton County, SC
  • Wakulla County, Fla.
  • Assumption Parish, La.
  • Jefferson Davis Parish, La.
  • Livingston Parish, La.
  • St. John the Baptist Parish, La.
  • Jackson County, Miss.

Least At-Risk Counties

  • Aroostook County, Maine
  • Franklin County, Maine
  • Hamilton County, NY
  • Grand Isle County, Vt.
  • Orleans County, Vt.
  • Piscataquis County, Maine
  • Essex County, Vt.
  • Franklin County, Vt.
  • Orange County, Vt.
  • Lamoille County, Vt.
Check out where your county ranks here. (Or you could simply put a bid in for a spot in the "most inclusive city in the world.")

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X