I urge you to take immediate action to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The recent UN IPCC report painted a dire picture of how climate change will affect the ocean and coasts. The impacts will become even more catastrophic if we continue to ignore this imminent threat.
Scientists estimate that by 2050, 90% of coral reefs will die off from ocean warming and acidification due to climate change. It's also predicted that sea levels will rise by three feet in the next 30 years, wiping out 87% of California's best surf breaks. In addition, warming water temperatures from climate change are expected to produce increasingly more harmful algae blooms, resulting in closed beaches, killed wildlife, and severe illnesses to surfers and swimmers.
The U.S. must increase our commitments to reduce carbon pollution and find innovative ways to adapt to the climate change impacts that we are already experiencing. Developing solutions to limit the effects of climate change makes good economic sense and it is also necessary to protect communities and environmental resources.
It is imperative that Congress helps local communities to adapt to climate change by providing financial resources and ensuring the best laws and policies are being applied to coastal management.
This Congress has a tremendous opportunity to protect our ocean and coasts from this environmental crisis. People from around the world are calling upon the U.S. to take bold action. There is little time to waste—future generation are counting on you.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue of climate change. We look forward to working with you on an ambitious climate agenda.
