On March 10, the Surfrider Foundation and leaders of the coastal recreation and tourism industry met virtually with congressional leaders and White House officials to demand immediate federal action to address climate change.
The recommendations included:
- Encouraging Congress to authorize $3 billion to support shovel-ready coastal restoration projects with priority given to projects that help to stimulate the economy, and assist communities of color, as well as low-income, tribal, and rural communities;
- Urging Congress to authorize $100 billion over the next 10 years to renovate the nation’s failing wastewater infrastructure to stop sewage spills at the source and enhance resilience to flooding and climate change impacts;
- Reinstituting the congressional and executive moratoriums on offshore drilling; and
- Passing Ocean Climate Solutions legislation that will leverage the ocean’s potential in the fight against climate change by protecting coastal and marine habitats and safeguarding communities from sea level rise.
Clean water and healthy beaches are critical to the nation’s coastal economies, communities, and recreation industries. In fact, coastal recreation and tourism constitute about 2.4 million jobs and contribute more than $129 billion to the U.S. economy every year.
“With nearly 40% of Americans living within the coastal zone, this administration and Congress must drastically increase efforts to protect our coastlines from climate change,” said Dr. Chad Nelsen, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation.
“Many communities are already experiencing climate change impacts, including extreme weather events, sea level rise, coastal erosion and ocean acidification. Based on current science, those impacts will only continue to grow, costing Americans billions of dollars and harming our coastal economy,” he added.
Representing coastal communities across the nation, attendees met with more than 150 congressional officials during Coastal Recreation Hill Day to urge comprehensive climate change policies that protect the ocean and coastlines for the future.
The Surfrider Foundation is a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection, restoration and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches, for all people. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over one million supporters, activists and members, with more than 170 volunteer-led chapters and student clubs in the U.S., and more than 700 victories protecting and restoring coasts.
Coastlines also play an essential role in protecting communities from extreme weather events and sea level rise resulting from climate change. In addition, natural marine and coastal environments are some of the most effective carbon sinks on the planet, pulling excess carbon out of the atmosphere.
However, the ocean and coasts are increasingly at risk. Warming water and melting glaciers are causing sea levels to rise at an accelerated rate, altering ocean circulation, starving the nation’s waterways of oxygen and changing the ocean’s chemistry.
The ocean has already absorbed over 90% of the heat trapped in our atmosphere and nearly 30% of the excess carbon dioxide previously emitted. Scientists estimate that by 2050, 90% of coral reefs will die off from ocean warming and acidification due to climate change. Increased water temperatures are expected to produce more harmful algae blooms, resulting in closed beaches, impacts to marine life, and severe illnesses to surfers and swimmers.
“Climate change represents perhaps the greatest single threat to the survival of our industry and a way of life enjoyed by millions of people,” said Sean Smith, executive director of the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA). “SIMA and the surf industry join the Surfrider Foundation in demanding that federal leaders take action on the climate crisis.”
The coastal recreation industry will demand federal action to help communities prepare for climate change impacts through shoreline planning and coastal adaptation. They will also urge Congress to enact laws to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ban new oil and gas drilling in U.S. waters, and promote renewable energy development.
In addition to climate change, the Surfrider Foundation will elevate the voices of the coastal recreation community to demand action on cleaner water, enhanced public health and reducing plastic pollution reduction in 2021 and beyond.
Featured photo Copyright © Zak Noyle / AFrame.