Sinkholes Are Becoming a Huge Problem in New York As Officials Deem Climate Change the Cause

Sinkholes are on the rise in New York, and officials have deemed the cause of most to be the climate crisis. Recently, a stretch in the Bronx collapsed, dropping a van into a sinkhole. In a hearing last week, speaking of the incident, the commissioner of the city’s Department of Environmental Protection, Rohit Aggarwala, said, “we will not be able to change our infrastructure as fast as the climate is changing.”

Source: CBS New York/Youtube

Sinkholes are often caused by heavy storms, which can moisten the ground and speed up erosion. Sinkholes form after rock and dirt dissolve underground, and eventually, a hole collapses.

Aggarwala said that between July 2021 and June 2022, the city received nearly 4,000 sinkhole complaints. He says that Climate change is the driving force behind these incidents and that Hurricane Ida, which hit the city last year, was a major impact.

“During and the morning after Ida, of course, we saw the visible impacts of Climate change on our infrastructure,” Aggarwala said.

These storms drop several inches in a short amount of time, and Aggarwala pointed out that most of the sewer systems in New York are only designed to handle around 1.5 inches of rain per hour.

“When you’re in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging,” Aggarwala said. “Which is why it is so important that we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.”

Cities all over the world, from California to Vietnam, are facing a climate crisis, and millions of people are protesting all over the world. Studies have shown that eating more plant-based can add over a decade to your lifespan, it can save the world’s forests, it benefits the environment, and it is significantly better for your health! Nations worldwide have urged people to eat more plant-based to curb climate change.

We highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes, it is the largest meatless, plant-based, vegan, and allergy-friendly recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

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