Climate change puts nearly a third of US facilities storing dangerous chemicals at risk

Almost one-third of chemical facilities in the US that store hazardous substances are threatened by global warming and its associated climate affects, the US Congress’ Government Accountability Office (GAO) has concluded.

The congressional watchdog found that 31% of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) 10,420 so-called ‘Risk Management Plan’ (RMP) facilities – which store or use dangerous chemicals – are located in areas with ‘natural hazards’ that may be exacerbated by climate change. These elevated dangers include flooding, storm surges, wildfires and rising sea levels.