TY - RPRT
TI - Protecting the Ocean and Supporting Rural Coastal Communities through Responsible Marine Renewable Energy
AU - ORPC
AB - The burning of fossil fuels for energy is having widespread and cascading consequences on the ocean. Thus far, the ocean has absorbed more than 90% of the heat and 30% of the carbon dioxide emissions produced from burning oil and gas. This is causing ocean waters to warm and become more acidic, driving sea level rise, and habitat degradation and loss, including coral bleaching.Coastal communities are also experiencing the effects of climate change—from more destructive storms, to flooding and erosion. Yet, at the same time, many of the most vulnerable of these seaside communities are also highly reliant on the importation of environmentally damaging fossil fuels for electricity and heat generation.While adapting to the effects of climate change will be critical for communities, the best path forward for a healthy and safe future for people and the environment is to end the use of fossil fuels and shift to clean renewable energy sources.Ocean Conservancy supports a transition to 100% clean ocean energy by the year 2050. The future should not be dependent on the destructive methods of past ocean energy development. By phasing out offshore oil and gas drilling and replacing it with responsibly-developed clean renewable energy, the ocean and its ecosystems can be protected from many of the future impacts of climate change. Ocean Conservancy is boldly leading efforts toward this complete sea change in ocean energy. Through science-based research, accessible finance, and targeted policy changes, responsible marine renewable energy can be advanced to meet clean energy transition benchmarks while protecting ocean ecosystems, wildlife, and communities.Presently, offshore wind is the dominant source of ocean-based renewable energy, as it is technologically advanced, commercially viable, and already generating gigawatts of electricity worldwide. Yet, utility-scale offshore wind will not be enough, nor viable, to decarbonize all communities. Other sources of clean ocean energy will need to be developed.Marine renewable energy technologies, namely wave and tidal energy, show promise as sources of clean energy that can complement existing renewables. The Biden Administration, through its Ocean Climate Action Plan, has stated that it plans “to rapidly and responsibly advance the commercialization of marine energy technologies that convert energy from waves, tides, currents, and other ocean sources.” The action plan sets out to bolster marine renewable energy research, education, and workforce development, and to do so through an environmental justice lens. As these technologies advance, it is crucial that their deployment is done with a robust understanding of environmental and social impacts and is coupled with appropriate mitigation measures to reduce risk. If done responsibly, wave and tidal energy can be effective additional sources of clean ocean energy that help to achieve a just energy transition, particularly for remote and rural coastal communities. 
DA - 2024/05//
PY - 2024
SP - 16
PB - Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC)
UR - https://oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Marine-Renewable-Report-final.pdf
LA - English
KW - Marine Energy
KW - Tidal
KW - Wave
KW - Human Dimensions
KW - Legal & Policy
KW - Stakeholder Engagement
ER -