Blue Carbon for Our Planet Act: Protecting Coastal Habitats that have the Ability to Store Carbon2/21/2022 The Blue Carbon for Our Planet Act was introduced in the Senate on November 18, 2021 by Senator Lisa Murkowski [R-AK] on behalf of herself and Senator Whitehouse [D-RI]. Senators Murkowski and Whitehouse co-chair the Oceans Caucus. The Bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. An identical Bill was introduced in the House by Representative Suzanne Bonamici [D-OR-1] on behalf of herself, Bill Posey [R-FL-8], Donald Beyer Jr [D-VA-8], and Brian Mast [R-FL-18]. The House Bill was read twice and referred to the Natural Resources, Science, Space, and Technology, and House Administration committees.
THE BILL: S.3245 H.R.2750 “From Rhode Island to Alaska, our oceans are in trouble. The coastal wetlands that make up the first line of defense against climate change are rapidly disappearing. Our bipartisan bill would help preserve the tidal marshes, mangroves, seagrasses, and kelp forests that provide a natural buffer to rising seas and absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere” -- Senator Whitehouse. What does the Bill do? In short, the Blue Carbon for Our Planet Act is an effort to protect, restore, and conserve the nation’s blue carbon ecosystems. Blue carbon is a term that is used to describe carbon that is sequestered and stored by the world's oceans and coastal ecosystems. Examples of these habitats include mangroves, tidal marshes, wetlands, seagrasses and kelp forests -- all ecosystems that help stabilize the coasts. These habitats can capture carbon from the atmosphere and other sources and can store it in both the biomass for years to decades, and in soils for hundreds to thousands of years. To accomplish these protection and restoration efforts, the Bill would establish the Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Coastal Blue Carbon, which would oversee the development and maintenance of a national map of these ecosystems, including specific habitat types, condition, size, and protected status, among other things. The map would also portray an assessment of the potential for carbon sequestration, methane production, and net greenhouse gas reduction in each area. The goal is that this will be a tool for local-level conservation, planning, and restoration efforts. Additionally, the IWG would work to identify barriers to conserving and restoring these coastal blue carbon ecosystems, including climate-induced vulnerabilities such as sea-level rise and ocean acidification. The IWG will work in collaboration with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to create a national strategy for studying the effects of human and environmental stressors (including climate change) on the ability of these systems to sequester carbon and thrive. The strategic plan will include federal investments in multiple aspects of coastal blue carbon ecosystem projects, from fundamental research to their development, and deployment. They will also place an emphasis on data availability and accessibility, including from the Coastal Carbon Data Clearinghouse. From this work, the Group will then establish national priorities to conserve and restore blue carbon ecosystems. For these efforts, the Bill authorizes $15,000,000 each year from Fiscal Years 2022-2026. Why was it proposed? Coastal blue carbon ecosystems like mangroves and tidal marshes provide numerous benefits to society and the environment. They protect coastal areas from flooding, help to retain soil and beach sand, and prevent erosion. Additionally, the ecosystems help to purify the surrounding water, provide a home to resident fish and wildlife, and can fuel local economies. As the severe and unrelenting impacts of climate change worsen, these ecosystems, where present, serve as a buffer and provide some coastal protection while simultaneously removing carbon from the atmosphere. Therefore, as the impacts from climate change continue to become more severe with stronger and more frequent storms and rising sea levels, restoration and conservation efforts in these areas are essential for building resilience. The climate crisis on Earth today is caused by humans burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air, which can seep into the ocean (1). The National Academies recently released a study focused on the importance of understanding methods and technologies for removing carbon dioxide from seawater in order to provide information on how to restore impacted environments and the integrity of existing technologies. For a more in-depth breakdown, check out the National Academies report (2). Benefits The Blue Carbon for our Planet Act provides a bipartisan and natural effort to help the United States reach a net zero carbon goal by 2050. Protecting and conserving these valuable ecosystems not only accesses a natural capture for atmospheric carbon, but preservation of these areas also is essential for maintaining coastal ecosystems and surrounding wildlife. Ensuring the security of these areas will also play a major role in natural resilience as society continues to adapt to the demands of a changing climate over the next several years. This includes stabilizing coastlines as sea levels rise, and also providing a natural buffer to protect coastal communities in severe weather events. Challenges One key challenge to this legislation is that it will take a lot of work and time to map the ecosystems and ensure functionality of datasets. Additionally, Congress at the moment is focused on other major priorities, like federal budget appropriations for FY22 and FY23, as well as passing some version of Build Back Better and the Supreme Court nomination process all during an election year. Patience for passing this legislation will likely be key. The reality of Congress (what the outlook of this bill looks like) Govtrack notes that this Bill has a 13% chance of becoming law (3). This Bill was introduced and is supported by members of both Republican and Democratic parties, indicating a Congressional acknowledgement that coastal ecosystems have an important impact on areas regardless of party lines. Want to advocate? This Bill currently has 2 co-sponsors in the Senate, Senators Whitehouse [D-RI] and Susan Collins [R-ME]. In the House, the 7 co-sponsors include Bill Posey [R-FL-8], Donald Beyer Jr. [D-VA-8], Brian Mast [R-FL-18], Chellie Pingree [D-ME-1], Derek Kilmer [D-WA-6], Peter DeFazio [D-OR-4], and Jared Huffman [D-CA-2]. Do you see your Congresspeople listed above? If not, you can email your policymakers by finding their emails at https://www.congress.gov/members?searchResultViewType=expanded or call their offices to voice your thoughts. Remember to use our Resources page for more information and guidance when reaching out! Footnotes
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