President Joe Biden announced new initiatives to combat extreme heat and climate change on Tuesday, allocating federal funds to make communities more resilient to natural disasters and hazards. Some of that funding will benefit New Hampshire, which will receive more than $1.6 million to fund 19 projects across the state. “Ignoring climate change is deadly, dangerous and irresponsible,” Biden said. Another proposal would be the first of its kind and would impose Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations on working in the heat. Kristina Dahl, senior climate scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said it would be a big step forward.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<"If we have a regulation this strong, we'll be much better prepared for the heat-related climate changes to come," Dahl said. Dahl said her research has shown that communities in New England will continue to struggle with extreme heat for decades to come. She is the author of a recent report looking at the impacts of rising sea levels on critical infrastructure along the U.S. coast. New Hampshire has only 20 miles of coastline, but Dahl said there will be significant problems with the state's coastline by the turn of the century. She said it will take decades to see the damage done by decisions made now. "We don't want to have tons of emissions in the future that put us in a bad spot at the end of the century," she said. Dahl said she hopes lawmakers, communities and the public will consider her findings and the research of other climate scientists.