What does 2022 hold for climate action? For a brief moment in time, there is a glimmer of hope that important climate legislation could move forward at our Nation’s capital, despite the Senate hamstringing the Build Back Better bill which contains critical climate measures. Hope sprang on January 19, 2022 when President Biden held a Build Back Better press conference.
During the press conference President Biden again underscored the need for bold climate action and the need to pass the provisions in the Build Back Better Act that will support families, drive more economic growth and address environmental justice and climate change. Surfrider and our partners are encouraged by President Biden’s suggestion that the Senate has the votes to pass the climate provisions of the Build Back Better bill. The Senate should move quickly to pass the most comprehensive version of the Build Back Better Act possible including the $550 billion in investments that will deliver on climate, justice, jobs, and clean energy.
In order to pass meaningful legislation and establish robust climate programs, coastal advocates must double our work. Fortunately, Surfrider is working with a diverse, highly esteemed coalition at the national level called the Coastal Flood Resilience Project. This coalition of nonprofit organizations is working together to advocate for stronger national programs to prepare for extreme weather and rising sea levels along coastlines of the United States. We have been busy publishing White Papers that we sent to the Biden Administration and other key federal agencies. To review the papers, visit our website.
In 2022, Surfrider will continue to advocate for the passage of the Ocean Based Climate Solutions Act. This legislation aims to leverage the ocean’s potential in the fight against climate change by permanently banning offshore oil drilling, helping communities adapt to sea level rise, promoting offshore renewable energy, supporting blue carbon ecosystem restoration, and improving ocean health by tackling emerging issues like harmful algae blooms and ocean acidification.
While 2021 was fraught with climate change catastrophes, the year also ushered in some positive advancements to combat the biggest existential threat facing humanity. Surfrider alone secured 15 victories to including passaging legislation in Oregon and Hawaii and helping implement sea level rise policy in Florida. We also organized Coastal Recreation Hill Day, where 100 Surfrider advocates met with 160 congressional office and the Biden administration to urge bold climate action. To cap off the year, we released the State of the Beach Report, that aims to improve how states manage coastlines and plan for sea level rise.
Once again, in 2022, Surfrider will be prioritizing our climate change work. Coastal communities are already experiencing climate change impacts such as extreme weather events, sea level rise, coastal erosion and ocean acidification. Climate change is not only negatively impacting our communities, but it is also gravely degrading the health of the ocean and many industries that contribute to our economy (i.e., coastal tourism, recreation, fishing, etc.). Humanity no longer has 'time to waste', climate change demands immediate action and we hope you will join Surfrider on our crusade to protect our ocean, waves and beaches from the climate crisis in the coming years.