9. Plan for how to address existing and potential climate change impacts.
New Hampshire must continue to plan for the impacts of climate change even as it works to address its causes. Carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for, on average, 100 years once it is emitted. There is also a delay in the climate's response to increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases due to the scale of the global climate system. Therefore, climate change will continue for some time even if all man-made greenhouse gas emissions were be reduced significantly in the near future. Some level of climate change adaptation is necessary to ensure that the current and future impacts of climate change do not significantly impact the health of our residents, the strength of our economy, or the character of our natural environment. By preparing for climate change early, the state can avoid significant costs, whether economic, social or ecological, in the future.