Abstract
California is a global leader of innovative, effective ocean and coastal protection. Our legislative leaders and state agencies have worked with local communities and other stakeholders in recent decades to establish an international model of coastal and ocean stewardship. Our Coastal Act, marine protected areas, and renowned scientific research programs anchor world-class approaches to safeguard these unique natural resources.
Our current climate change crisis, which impacts our oceans and coasts in alarming ways, demands California’s continued leadership. The International Panel on Climate Change recently found that coastal ecosystems are under stress from ocean warming, intensified marine heat waves, ocean acidification, loss of oxygen, and sea-level rise, and that impacts to species, biodiversity, and ecosystem services are already being observed. Never before has our state’s ambition and effectiveness protecting the ocean and coast been more important. Our continued progress will serve as a powerful example to places across the world to combat these unprecedented challenges to our oceans and coasts.