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Louisiana’s coastal wetlands are disappearing at the rate of a football field every 100 minutes. The state has a plan to get them back. 

Today a broad group of environmental, civic and environmental justice organizations announced their shared demands for a major overhaul of the $52.6 billion storm surge protection plan proposed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), calling for a comprehensive approach that addresses multiple flood hazards and prioritizes historically disadvantaged communities in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan region.

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), alongside partners and supporters, celebrate the start of a long-awaited $2.9 billion initiative to reconnect the Mississippi River to the Barataria Basin, thus transforming 21 square miles of dying wetlands into a lush and thriving ecosystem.

Thirteen years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Louisiana broke ground on the largest ecosystem restoration project in history. The Mid-Barataria sediment diversion will restore the flow of the Mississippi River into Louisiana’s degraded, vanishing wetlands, providing storm surge and flood protection and restoring fish and wildlife habitat. 

Climate science tells us a lot about how and why hurricanes are becoming more dangerous. Stronger hurricanes are becoming more frequent, for one thing. 

Environmental Defense Fund supports the leadership of New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy and Department of Environmental Protection and their commitment to protect communities from riverine flood risk and stormwater runoff.

Over the past year, leaders have responded to our call to act – a call that was supported by more than a hundred organizations around the country. Here are two major ways their efforts can prepare us for the next hurricane. The post Hurricane season is here again. And finally, leaders are addressing multiple flood risks. first appeared on Growing Returns.

Climate science tells us a lot about how and why hurricanes are becoming more dangerous. Stronger hurricanes are becoming more frequent, for one thing.

EDF advocates for an approach to the New York-New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Study that is multi-hazard, community-centered and prioritizes nature-based solutions.

In recent weeks, new legislation has advanced the prioritization of climate resilience in the state of Florida.

The Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA 2022) passed through Congress last December as part of the this typically biennial and bipartisan legislation invests in water infrastructure by authorizing projects, studies and programs led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The post How new provisions in the Water Resources Development Act are building climate resilience first appeared on Growing Returns.

Environmental Defense Fund and Texas A&M University published a new study that found all states in the U.S. are at risk from the effects of climate change, particularly neighborhoods experiencing disproportionate environmental harms and risks, health disparities and infrastructure problems.

Wetlands can be powerhouses for climate adaptation and resilience. This World Wetlands Day, we are highlighting one type of wetland that impacts people the most – coastal urban wetlands. The post Three ways to take bold action to protect urban coastal wetlands first appeared on Growing Returns.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) signed the Record of Decision approving permits for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion. Backed by decades of innovative scientific modeling, the decision is a pivotal moment for the state, marking a major victory in the fight to address the state’s land loss and erosion crisis.

Sustainable seafood grown in United States federal waters is one step closer to being on the menu today as Congress considers a new bipartisan measure — the Science-based Equitable Aquaculture Food Act, or SEAfood Act.

As communities in southwest Florida, Puerto Rico and elsewhere in the Caribbean struggle to recover from the damages of an active hurricane season, efficient, proactive resilience solutions have never been more important. The post Building climate resilience requires a whole-of-government approach. Here’s how Louisiana is making it happen. first appeared on Growing Returns.

The devastation of Hurricane Sandy launched scores of efforts across New York and New Jersey to prepare for the next storm. But some residents are no more protected today than they were a decade ago. EDF and partners are working to build resilience in this critical region. 

EDF statement of Emily Steinhilber, Director, Climate Resilient Coasts and Watersheds, Virginia

North Carolina is taking steps to ensure coastal resilience following the storm.

EDF statement of Elizabeth Gore, Senior Vice President, Political Affairs

EDF and partners at Cornell University launched a two-part social science study to examine Louisiana residents’ risk perceptions related to coastal land loss and climate change.

While Virginia’s General Assembly concluded its 2022 legislative session with several successes, more work is needed – particularly in securing long-term funding for flood resilience, to protect people and natural resources from flood threats now and in the future. The post Virginia’s Legislature made progress on flood resilience in 2022, but significant work remains. first appeared on Growing Returns.

As we close out American Wetlands Month, here are six reasons why one of nature's richest ecosystems provide value to our lives every month of the year. The post Six reasons why wetlands are vital every month of the year. first appeared on Growing Returns.

By: Kristin M. Kleisner and Jamie Collins As we embark this year on the United Nations Ocean Decade, you may be hearing quite a bit about blue carbon. But what is it, and why is it so important for the future of our planet?  Well, the oceans play a critical role in trapping carbon, and they …

Here are five recommendations for how government leaders can increase the resilience of coastal communities before the worst effects of sea level rise take hold. The post The sea is rising faster than ever. How can we prepare? first appeared on Growing Returns.