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A drone view shows Kivalina, Alaska, which is at the very end of an eight-mile barrier reef located between a lagoon and the Chukchi Sea, on September 10, 2019. Joe Raedle / Getty Images
As the climate warms, sea levels are rising, tropical storms are intensifying, and ocean waters are growing more acidic.
These changes to the oceans have major impacts for people on land, from flooded coastal communities to losses for the fishing industry.
So his group is lobbying for what some refer to as a Blue New Deal – a comprehensive set of policies and programs to protect ocean health and help coastal communities adapt to climate change.
For example, they want to see policies that reform the National Flood Insurance Program and protect critical fish habitat. They also advocate for restoring coastal ecosystems that can naturally buffer storm waves.
Helvarg says prioritizing oceans and coastlines can save lives, strengthen the economy and “restore a healthy and vital ocean that so many of us grew up with.”
Reposted with permission from Yale Climate Connections.