Wetlands Watch Takes Legal Action on Climate Change

Wetlands Watch, working with the Southern Environmental Law Center, has intervened in Federal Court to support the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "Endangerment Finding" -- the conclusion that greenhouse gases cause climate change and thus endanger human health and welfare.  We were compelled to do so because of our work in tidewater Virginia over the last four years, helping communities cope with accelerated rates of sea level rise.

We have seen a half-meter of sea level rise in Virginia over the last century, the highest rate of sea level rise on the East Coast and exceeded nationally only by New Orleans and Galveston.  We will see more than that in the coming century:  the Virginia Commission on Climate Change estimated a sea level rise of between 2.3 and 5.2 feet by 2110.  The Commission, at the conclusion of the last public deliberation on climate change in Virginia, recommended moving to check increases in greenhouse gases.

Virginia communities like Tangier, Saxis, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Poquoson, Guinea Neck, Bayvon, Windmill Point, and Lewisetta are already experiencing economic impacts due to increased flooding due to higher sea level.  Without action to check greenhouse gas emissions, if higher rates of sea level rise are allowed to occur, these tidewater communities will suffer even more.

We are seeing businesses and the military make major investments in order to continue operations in the face of increased coastal flooding.  We have watched homeowners struggle as major private sector insurers withdraw coverage near Virginia's tidal shorelines, with remaining insurance coverage costing more and involving higher deductibles.  We have witnessed communities with formerly safe homes and dry streets get wetter and wetter.

Sea level rise is real and eating away at the livelihood of Virginia's coastal economy.

We believe that the answer for Virginians is to be found in a cooperative relationship with the Federal government to solve this problem.  While dealing with climate change will be costly, we will all pay the price of doing nothing with each new storm that hits tidewater Virginia.

In our opinion, Virginia's Attorney General acted in error when he challenged EPA's endangerment finding.  Sea level rise is a fact, is accelerating, and can be linked to climate change.  While this conclusion may upset the Commonwealth's status quo, an even worse consequence will befall us if we do nothing or, worse, if we try to delay any corrective action at the Federal level.

We are taking action on behalf of our Members and the millions of other Virginians who are left endangered by our state government's attempts to block needed greenhouse gas emissions regulations. 

In tidewater Virginia the stakes of inaction are high and, like our waterline, getting higher.