Climate adaptation legislation is important, but Alaskans need carbon reductions now

HOMER, ALASKA— SalmonState thanks Senator Lisa Murkowski and Senator Chris Coons for their introduction last Thursday of the National Climate Adaptation and Resilience Strategy Act (NCARS), a bill aimed at streamlining and strengthening the federal government’s ability to adapt to climate change. But SalmonState also calls on that same leadership team, including Senator Murkowski, to also support reductions in carbon emissions, without which Alaska will continue to see increased wildfires, changing weather patterns, unreliable winter ice, and suffering salmon runs.

“Senator Murkowski has made it clear that she knows Alaskans, fishermen and coastal communities are being negatively impacted by climate change, and we commend her for her leadership when it comes to finding ways to help us adapt,” said SalmonState Executive Director Tim Bristol. “But acknowledging that climate change is human-caused isn’t enough to defend our wild salmon runs, to keep winter ice reliable for essential winter travel, or to protect Alaskans’ homes and businesses from being consumed by wildfire, dropping into the sea, or being swallowed by sinkholes created by melting permafrost. We need bold climate action now — and that means not only the important action of adapting to climate change, as the Senator has proposed, but reducing our carbon emissions and stopping climate change from worsening. The future of our wild salmon runs, and Alaska, may very well hinge on the actions our senior senator takes today.”