Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments for the Draft
2022 Climate Change Scoping Plan. Coastal wetlands like salt marsh
& eelgrass are incredible effecient natural tools in fighting
climate change . These cosatal habitats capture carbon dioxide from
the atmosphere and surrounding waters referred to as "Blue Carbon".
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recognizes
coastal wetlands plays an important contribution in mitigating
climate change. IPCC includes proposals to protect and restore
coastal wetlands, which includes their vital ecosystem, as a
methodology for greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories.
CARB (CA Air Resources Board) has an opportunity to protect and
enhance CA's Blue Carbon habitas as part of the state's climate
action plan (The Scoping Plan). The Draft Plan includes a goal to
restore 60,000 acres of wetlands in the Sacramento San Joaquin
River Delta. This will not only contribute significantly to CA's
climate measures by reducing GHG emissions, but protects coastal
communities from flooding , improves water quality, and supports
wildlife biodiversity. CARB should expand Blue Carbon capture
beyond the Delta Region by establishing specific targets for
coastal wetland conservation and restoration.
CA's Ocean Protection Council has a goal to increase coatal
wetland acreage by 50% by 2040. CARB can incorporate this goal for
information gathering and research so they can be quantified and
included in the next Scoping update. Such actions will establish
Blue Carbon as an imporant tool in climate change mitigation and
protect CA's coastal resources, wildlife biodiverstity, economic
value and culture. Thank you.
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