Climate Change

Protecting Our Coast and Ocean From Climate Change

Climate change is significantly altering California’s coastal watersheds and marine ecosystems.  The most immediate impacts are ocean acidification and sea level rise.  Ocean acidification, fueled by the ocean’s absorption of carbon dioxide emissions, will lower ocean pH and trigger a cascade of impacts to California's water quality and marine life.  For example, studies suggest that acidic water will dissolve sea creatures’ protective shells and reduce the abundance and diversity of the state's historic kelp forests.  Shifting precipitation patterns, warmer air and water temperatures, storm surges and sea level rise similarly will have widespread and serious impacts to creeks, streams, rivers, estuaries, coastal watersheds and our beaches.

At least a 16-inch rise in sea level is projected along the California coast by 2050, with a 50-inch rise by the turn of the century. A recent analysis prepared by the Pacific Institute estimates that critical infrastructure, essential coastal wetlands and other habitats, and many billions in property along the coast face steadily increasing flooding risks if no adaptation actions are taken; see maps predicting the future impacts of sea level rise in California.  Despite growing information about the risks and threats of climate change, few adaptation measures have actually been undertaken at either the state or local level. The longer the state waits, the more likely it becomes that "adaptation" to erosion and inundation will be property and natural habitat damage, or coastal armoring that only sends the problem somewhere else. 

CCKA is Taking Action

In March 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requested public comment on whether the health of waters impaired by ocean acidification could be improved under tools provided by Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act.  CCKA submitted comments calling for EPA's immediate application of Clean Water Act protections to waters impaired by ocean acidification.  CCKA subsequently petitioned the State Water Board to list waters impaired by ocean acidification, reduced flows, and other climate-driven impairments on California's 2012 "303(d) List" of impaired waters.

In December 2009, the California Natural Resources Agency and Climate Action Team released the 2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategy (CAS Report), which outlines a suite of potential adaptation strategies that the state should consider to mitigate climate change impacts. Many of these climate adaptation decisions will rest with regional and community governing entities and will need to be implemented through local land use plans. CCKA is taking action to bridge the gap between state and local climate adaptation governance, and prompt all levels of California government to start implementing adaptation measures before economic and environmental impacts escalate.  CCKA is working with local Waterkeeper organizations to demonstrate how coastal communities can prepare adaptation action plans that address sea level rise impacts and enhance the natural adaptive capacity of coastal ecosystems.  CCKA is also working with the state's Ocean Protection Council ensure that climate change adaptation is a priority action in the Council's upcoming, revised five-year Strategic Plan.