Sea-level rise and coastal habitats in the Pacific Northwest: An analysis for Puget Sound, southwestern Washington, and northwestern Oregon

Jonathan Clough, Brad Nunley
Posted on: 6/23/2016 - Updated on: 2/27/2020

Posted by

CAKE Team

Published

Abstract

Global climate change is a reality. Human emissions are driving unprecedented and dangerous climate change, with coastal regions on the front lines of its effects. If we allow climate change to continue unabated, it will have significant effects across the world. Here in the Pacific Northwest, it will jeopardize the health of our most valued natural companions: shellfish, salmon, shorebirds, and waterfowl. As this important report shows, it will also fundamentally alter the way our human community lives on this beautiful coastline, how we get our food, how we interact with nature, and how we live as neighbors to Puget Sound.

With this report, the National Wildlife Federation reinforces its position of leadership on the most pressing issue facing our human and natural communities today: global climate change. Although the scenarios described in this report may sound gloomy, I am inspired by this honest presentation of one possible future of the Pacific Northwest. Only with such sound science and reason clearly illuminating the problem can we as community leaders and citizens be motivated, empowered and wise enough to cope with and limit the negative consequences of climate change to our beloved coastline. This report advances our collective understanding of that shared future, and I encourage you to read it with that same sense of purpose.

Keywords

Region
Document Type
Target Climate Changes and Impacts
Type of Adaptation Action/Strategy