To combat climate change, in addition to reducing
emissions, we will also need to remove greenhouse gases from the
atmosphere. Ocean CDR (ocean carbon dioxide
removal) is a set of strategies to sequester carbon dioxide in ocean
waters. Sarah Cooley (Ocean Conservancy) will moderate a
conversation
between Holly Buck (University at Buffalo) and Nick Pidgeon (Cardiff
University) about social acceptance, environmental governance, and other
issues around ocean CDR strategies. The
webinar will include discussion of the new National Academies report, A
Research Strategy for Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal and
Sequestration.
Speakers:
Holly Buck is an assistant professor of Environment and Sustainability
at the University at Buffalo and a contributing author to an
IPCC chapter on cross-sectoral governance,
including carbon dioxide removal governance. Her research involves the
social and environmental dimensions of emerging technologies to remove
carbon from the atmosphere, and she served on the report committee for
A Research Strategy for Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal and
Sequestration.
Nick Pidgeon is a professor of Environmental Psychology and Risk and
the Director of the Understanding Risk Research Group at Cardiff
University. His work focuses on public engagement with risk and
technology, climate change risks, and emerging technologies including
greenhouse gas removal, and he has led numerous projects on public
responses to environmental and technological risk and on ‘science in
society’ for UK Government Departments, the UK Research Councils, the
Royal Society, The US National Science Foundation, and charities. He
is currently Co-Investigator of the Leverhulme Centre for Climate
Mitigation, a major 10-year interdisciplinary effort to understand the
carbon removal potential, localized benefits and risks, public risk
perceptions, and the social and ethical implications of using enhanced
rock weathering technologies in agricultural production settings for
greenhouse gas removal.
Sarah Cooley is the Director of Climate Science at Ocean Conservancy
and currently a Coordinating Lead Author on Working Group II of the
IPCC’s 6th Assessment report. Using science
synthesis and strategic communications, she educates and engages
decision-makers and stakeholders on climate science and ocean
acidification to identify ways that different groups can take action.
On Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. (EDT), the Committee on Natural
Resources will hold a virtual, fully remote legislative hearing on the
following bills:
H.R.
660
(Rep. Stacey Plaskett, D-VI), To require the Secretary of Commerce to
establish a grant program to benefit coastal habitats, resiliency, and
the economy, and for other purposes. Shovel-Ready Restoration Grants
for Coastlines and Fisheries Act of 2021.
H.R.
1415
(Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-WA), To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of
1972 to authorize grants to Indian Tribes to further achievement of
Tribal coastal zone objectives, and for other purposes. Tribal Coastal
Resiliency Act.
H.R.
1689
(Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, R-PR), To amend the Outer Continental
Shelf Lands Act to apply to territories of the United States, to
establish offshore wind lease sale requirements, to provide dedicated
funding for coral reef conservation, and for other purposes. Offshore
Wind for Territories Act.
H.R.
2750
(Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-OR), To establish an Interagency Working
Group on Coastal Blue Carbon, and for other purposes. Blue Carbon for
Our Planet Act.
H.R.
3160
(Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-ME), To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act
of 1972 to establish a Working Waterfront Task Force and a working
waterfronts grant program, and for other purposes. Keep America’s
Waterfronts Working Act.
H.R.
3228
(Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-NY), To direct the Secretary of Commerce,
acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, to improve science, data, and services
that enable sound decision-making in response to coastal flood risk,
including impacts of sea-level rise, storm events, changing Great
Lakes water levels, and land subsidence. National Coastal Resilience
Data and Services Act.
H.R.
3692
(Rep. Julia Brownley, D-CA), To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act
of 1972 to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a climate
impact management plan for the conservation of certain marine mammal
species, and for other purposes. Marine Mammal Climate Change
Protection Act.
H.R.
3748
(Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-OR), To improve data collection and
monitoring of the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts,
and for other purposes. BLUE GLOBE ACT.
H.R.
3764
(Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-AZ), To direct the Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide for
ocean-based climate solutions to reduce carbon emissions and global
warming; to make coastal communities more resilient; and to provide
for the conservation and restoration of the ocean and coastal
habitats, biodiversity, and marine mammal and fish populations; and
for other purposes. Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act of 2021.
H.R.
3817
(Rep. Charlie Crist, D-FL), To allow coastal States to participate in
regional ocean partnerships with one or more other coastal States that
share a common ocean or coastal area with the coastal State to
conserve living resources, expand and protect valuable habitats,
enhance coastal resilience, and address such other issues related to
the shared ocean or coastal area as are determined to be a shared,
regional priority by those States. Regional Ocean Partnership Act.
H.R.
3864
(Rep. Anthony Brown, D-MD), To express the sense of Congress that the
Chesapeake Bay Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall be the primary representative of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the Chesapeake Bay, to
require the Secretary of the Commerce, acting through the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
to provide grants supporting research on the conservation,
restoration, or management of oysters in estuarine ecosystems, and for
other purposes. Chesapeake Bay Oyster Research Act.
H.R.
3892
(Rep. Don Beyer, D-VA), To improve the National Oceans and Coastal
Security Act, and for other purposes. National Oceans and Coastal
Security Improvements Act.
H.R.
3906
(Rep. Jared Huffman, D-CA), To establish a Blue Carbon program to
conserve and restore marine and coastal blue carbon ecosystems, and
other purposes. Blue Carbon Protection Act.
Witnesses
Panel I: Congressional Panel
Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (H.R. 1689)
Rep. Chellie Pingree (H.R. 3160)
Rep. Don Beyer (H.R. 3892)
Rep. Jared Huffman (H.R. 3906)
Panel II: Administration
Stephen
Guertin,
Deputy Director for Policy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Nicole
LeBoeuf.
Acting Administrator, National Ocean Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
On Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. (EDT), the Subcommittee on Energy
and Mineral Resources will host a virtual, fully remote legislative
hearing
titled, “Protecting Coastal Communities and Ocean Resources from
Offshore Drilling,” including the following bills and other related
measures.
H.R.
570
(Rep. Donald McEachin) To require operators of offshore oil and gas
facilities to report failures of critical systems to the Secretary of
the Interior, and for other purposes. Offshore Accountability Act
H.R.
2643
(Rep. Julia Brownley) To require the Bureau of Safety and
Environmental Enforcement to further develop, finalize, and implement
updated regulations for offshore oil and gas pipelines to address
long-standing limitations regarding its ability to ensure active
pipeline integrity and address safety and environmental risks
associated with decommissioning, and for other purposes. Offshore
Pipeline Safety Act
H.R.
2836
(Rep. Kathy Castor) To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to
prohibit oil and gas preleasing, leasing, and related activities in
certain areas of the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of Florida,
and for other purposes. Florida Coastal Protection Act
H.R. _ (Rep. Frank Pallone) To amend the Outer Continental Shelf
Lands Act to permanently prohibit the conduct of offshore drilling on
the Outer Continental Shelf in the Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, North
Atlantic, and Straits of Florida planning areas. COAST Anti-Drilling
Act
H.R. _ (Rep. Mike Levin) To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Land
Act to prohibit oil and gas leasing in the Southern California
planning area. American Coasts and Oceans Protection Act
H.R. _ (Rep. Jared Huffman) To amend the Other Continental Shelf
Lands Act to prohibit oil and gas leasing in certain areas of the
Outer Continental Shelf. North Pacific Ocean Protection Act
On Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. (EDT), the Subcommittee on Water,
Oceans, and Wildlife will hold a virtual, fully remote legislative
hearing on the following bill:
H.R. 160
(Rep. Darren Soto, D-FL) To reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act
of 2000 and to establish the United States Coral Reef Task Force, and
for other purposes. Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021.
Witness List
Jennifer
Koss,
Director, Coral Reef Conservation Program, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
Dr. Andrew C.
Baker,
Professor, Department of Marine Biology and Ecology Rosenstiel School
of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami
Fran A.
Castro,
Associate Director, University of Guam Sea Grant
Dr. Robert H.
Richmond,
Research Professor and Director Kewalo Marine Laboratory University of
Hawaii at Manoa
Kelley L. Anderson
Tagarino,
Extension Faculty – Aquaculture & Marine Science University of Hawaii
Sea Grant College Program American, Samoa Community College
The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on H.R. 4174,
legislation introduced by Rep. Tom Allen of Maine on November 14, 2007.
The Committee will also examine the current status of science on ocean
acidification and research and monitoring activities focused on ocean
acidification and its potential impacts on marine organisms and marine
ecosystems.
Witnesses
Dr. Richard A. Feely, Supervisory Chemical Oceanographer, Pacific
Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration. Dr. Feely will discuss the quantification of oceanic
uptake of carbon dioxide and NOAA’s
monitoring program; major research issues to be addressed including
the relationship between the ocean acidification process and carbon
cycling processes in the ocean.
Dr. Joan Kleypas, Scientist, Institute for the Study of Society and
Environment, National Center for Atmospheric Research. Dr. Kleypas
will discuss the impacts of ocean acidification on marine life and
marine ecosystems, particularly on coral reef ecosystems.
Dr. Scott Doney, Senior Scientist, Department of Marine Chemistry and
Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Dr. Doney will
discuss the gaps in our understanding of ocean acidification and the
implications of ocean acidification for marine resource management.
Dr. Doney will also discuss current interagency efforts and federal
programs addressing ocean acidification.
Dr. Ken Caldeira, Scientist, Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie
Institution for Science of Washington. Dr. Caldeira will discuss the
ongoing changes in the global carbon cycle and its relationship to
ocean acidification including the research and modeling efforts needed
to better understand ocean acidification and to project its impacts
and develop strategies for adaptation and mitigation.
Mr. Brad Warren, Director, Productive Oceans Partnership Program,
Sustainable Fisheries Partnership. The Sustainable Fisheries
Partnership provides policy and technical guidance to seafood
suppliers and producers. The Productive Oceans Partnership Program was
formed to address the issue of ocean acidification. Mr. Warren will
discuss the potential impacts of ocean acidification on the world
seafood industry and the steps the Partnership is recommending to deal
with the problem of ocean acidification.
On Tuesday, April 29, 2008, Chairman Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and the
Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming will hold a
hearing examining the impact global warming is having on the earth’s
oceans and ecosystems. Featuring renowned explorer Sylvia Earle and
other ocean experts, the hearing will discuss how carbon dioxide
emissions and the effects from global warming are harming the earth’s
coral reefs, increasing the acidity and sea-levels of oceans across the
globe, and putting fish stocks at risk during an already burgeoning food
crisis.
Witnesses
Sylvia Earle, Explorer-in-Residence, National Geographic Society
Dr. Vikki Spruill, President and CEO of The
Ocean Conservancy
Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Department of Zoology, Oregon State University
Dr. Joan Kleypas, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder,
Colorado
House Energy Independence and Global Warming Committee
The House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Fisheries,
Wildlife and Oceans, led by Del. Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU), will hold
a legislative hearing on the following bills:
H.R. 3223 (Allen): To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to
establish a grant program to ensure coastal access for commercial and
recreational fishermen and other water-dependent coastal-related
businesses, and for other purposes. (Keep Our Waterfronts Working Act
of 2007)
H.R. 5451 (Bordallo): To reauthorize the Coastal Zone Management Act
of 1972, and for other purposes. (Coastal Zone Reauthorization Act of
2008)
H.R. 5452 (Capps): To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to
authorize grants to coastal States to support State efforts to
initiate and complete surveys of coastal State waters and Federal
waters adjacent to a State’s coastal zone to identify potential areas
suitable or unsuitable for the exploration, development, and
production of renewable energy, and for other purposes. (Coastal State
Renewable Energy Promotion Act of 2008)
H.R. 5453 (Capps): To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to
authorize assistance to coastal states to develop coastal climate
change adaptation plans pursuant to approved management programs
approved under section 306, to minimize contributions to climate
change, and for other purposes. (Coastal State Climate Change Planning
Act of 2008)
