Ocean Protection Council Meeting March 11, 2011 – Meeting Highlights
TO: California Ocean and Coastal Community
FROM: John Laird, Secretary for Natural Resources
DATE: March 23, 2011
SUBJECT: March 2011 OPC Meeting Highlights
Dear Ocean and Coastal Community,
On March 11, we had the first Ocean Protection Council (OPC) meeting of 2011 here in Sacramento. The first order of business was the annual election of the Council chair; I am honored that I was elected to that position. I look forward to serving both the Council and the people of California as we address the many challenges facing our ocean resources and the economy they support.
Climate Change Adaptation Policy: This meeting focused on climate change, one of the greatest challenges facing our state and nation. The Council took significant action by unanimously adopting a resolution that provides guidance for how state agencies should prepare for sea-level rise as well as science-based sea-level rise projections they should consider in their management activities. Sea-level rise is one of the most significant impacts that California faces from climate change. A study funded in part by the OPC has shown that a 55-inch sea-level rise combined with a 100-year storm event along the California coast would place approximately 480,000 people and nearly $100 billion of property at risk.
The recent tsunami provided a tragic reminder that coastal flooding, inundation, and erosion can have significant impacts to public safety, the economy, and our natural resources. The OPC recommendations, if followed, will reduce these impacts and will help protect coastal and bay communities. The resolution recommends that state agencies incorporate sea-level rise and impacts from storms into their decision making, ensuring careful investment of public funding and avoiding decisions that could place economic and environmental resources at risk. This forward-looking resolution on sea-level rise builds on guidance developed and agreed upon by 16 state agencies through a process led by OPC staff and informed by the OPC’s Science Advisory Team.
Climate Change Science: Another highlight of the March 11 meeting was the presentation of a position statement on climate change by Dr. Gary Griggs, Director of the Institute of Marine Science at UC Santa Cruz and member of the OPC-Science Advisory Team. This statement, signed by 23 prominent scientists of the OPC-Science Advisory Team, highlights the urgent need for action on climate change.
Dr. David Pierce of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography provided an excellent presentation to the Council describing the scientific consensus regarding climate change, its impacts, and its causes. His presentation summarized years of data and information in a succinct and understandable way to make a simple point: climate change is happening and we need to take action to address it.
Funding for Science and Monitoring: The Council unanimously supported continued funding for the comprehensive and cost-effective program to monitor the emerging system of marine protected areas along the California coast. In addition, the Council also unanimously supported funding to support the OPC Science Advisory Team, and the continued independent peer review of OPC proposals and reports, among other science services. By investing these funds, the Council is helping to ensure the scientific integrity of all OPC projects.
For more meeting details, please visit: http://www.opc.ca.gov/category/meetings/
Please join us at our next meeting on May 12, 2011 in Morro Bay where we will focus on sustainable fisheries.
