House Democrats' Ocean Climate Bill Would Ban Drilling, Help Fisheries

摘要

House Democrats are floating legislation that would for the first time seek to address the effects of climate change on the oceans, banning new offshore drilling while at the same time upgrading federal ocean management efforts and aiding fisheries by reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions that cause climate change. During an Oct. 20 virtual press conference, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) unveiled the bill, H.R. 8632, known as the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act. Other sponsors include Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL), chairwoman of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. "A healthy ocean is key to fighting the climate crisis," Grijalva said. "This bill provides a roadmap for ocean and coastal climate resilience, and responsibly uses them to curb the pollution that is intensifying the climate crisis." Oceans absorb 93 percent of the heat trapped by climate change, making them hotter and more acidic, his office noted in a press release. At the same time, up to 21 percent of the annual greenhouse gas emission cuts needed to address the issue can come from oceans. Grijalva added that ongoing damage to oceans must be halted to protect food, jobs and coastlines, and said a healthy ocean is an environmental justice issue. As such, the bill includes protections for low-income areas and communities of color "front and center."