National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator and Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Richard Spinrad testified before the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.
The hearing also featured State Department Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Monica Medina and discussed the importance of our oceans and Great Lakes, how we can protect them and the communities that rely on them, according to a notice announcing the hearing.
“I very much enjoyed the opportunity to speak before the @ClimateCrisis Committee with my friend @MonicaMedinaDC on how ocean conservation and climate action go hand in hand,” Spinrad said in a post on Twitter.
The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis held the June 9 in-person and zoom hybrid hearing titled “Turning the Tide for Ocean Climate Action: Unleashing the Climate Benefits of Our Blue Planet.” The hearing analyzed the relationship between the ocean and the climate crisis and detailed ocean-related ways to combat climate change, according to the notice.
In his testimony, Spinrad identified “extreme heat, drought, wildfires, flooding, coastal inundation and impacts to fisheries” as key climate risks. He also testified the nation's ocean waters support nearly 2 million jobs and generate more than $255 billion in economic activity.
NOAA utilizes a large network of radars, satellites, buoys, aircraft, ships and drones to monitor ocean conditions as they are impacted by changes in the Earth’s climate, Spinrad testified. He also emphasized the importance of monitoring the climate’s effect on America’s oceans because more than 127 million people live in counties along the country’s coasts, according to his testimony.
“The climate crisis is an ocean crisis. Which means the ocean must be part of our national climate strategy – and we must invest in ocean-based climate solutions,” U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor said in her opening statement, according to the hearing notice.
