Looking into the future the Pelican feeding its young from a self-induced wound in its own breast (as depicted, mysteriously, on the state flag of Louisiana) is accepted as an appropriate symbol of both self-sacrifice and rebirth. Through his selfless efforts, man is raised from the slavery of ignorance to the condition of freedom conferred by wisdom. Given the current state of affairs in Louisiana, one hopes that the understanding of the Pelican as a symbol shall point the way towards a new consciousness of ourselves as a whole, and lead us to face our futures with strength, grace, wisdom and faith, to learn from our mistakes and carry our successes and zest for living to future generations.

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A Letter of Concern for Louisiana's Wetlands-Coast & Support for the Climate Stewardship Act

The Honorable Mary Landrieu
United States Senate
724 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
June 18, 2004

Dear Senator Landrieu:

As organizations and scientists concerned with the restoration and preservation of Louisiana’s coastal wetlands and waterways, we are writing to you in support of the Climate Stewardship Act (S. 139), sponsored by Senators John McCain and Joseph Lieberman. We urge you to join us in protecting our valuable coastal region.

Global warming is one of the most serious environmental threats of our time. The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that due to increased temperatures, sea levels are predicted to rise 1 to 3 feet over the next 100 years. Louisiana continues to lose 25 to 30 square miles of wetlands each year, a number likely to increase due to the coincidence of sea-level rise, human land-use and natural processes. Wetlands are dynamic ecosystems that provide a number of benefits to society, including an array of commercial, cultural, recreational, and environmental benefits to people, fish, and wildlife. As we go to the nation for the $14 billion needed to restore our coast, voting in favor of action on climate change would give another indication that Louisiana is serious about being a good steward of the environment and deserving of this investment from our nation.

Confronting Climate Change in the Gulf Coast Region, a report of The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and the Ecological Society of America (ESA), predicts more intense flooding events from hurricanes and storms in the Gulf Coast region, as well as saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers and rivers (spoiling water supplies), due to sea level rise, warmer oceans, and changes in rainfall patterns. Predicted increases in Mississippi River discharge could expand the lifeless “dead zone” in the Gulf, further damaging the ecosystem and the seafood industry. According to the UCS and ESA report, sea-level rise will alter coastal wetlands along the entire Gulf Coast, causing increased flooding, greater saltwater penetration, and higher rates of coastal erosion. The loss of wetlands due to the effects of global warming will lead to loss of fisheries and habitats, impacting our seafood industry and culture. All of the above could negatively impact a leading source of New Orleans’ revenue – tourism. In addition, valuable oil and gas pipelines will be exposed and vulnerable to damage and spills, further damaging wetland ecosystems and rendering transportation waterways unusable, which would effect our #1 revenue source – the oil and gas industry.

The McCain Leiberman Climate Stewardship Act is a bipartisan national plan for action to begin solving the serious problem of global warming. The Act would take a first step in dealing with this environmental threat by requiring industry to control the amount of pollution that they emit into the atmosphere. The Act gives power plants, oil companies and factories until 2010 to collectively reduce their emissions to the levels they emitted in 2000. By creating an emissions trading system under which companies can sell excess reductions to companies that are unable to meet these requirements, the Act encourages innovation and helps reduce the costs of environmental progress.

Global warming poses an enormous threat to our wetlands and therefore affects public health, fish and wildlife resources, and our economy. The longer we wait to take action, the worse the problem will become. Senator, please join us in supporting this crucial bill and protecting the future of Louisiana.

Sincerely,

Doug Daigle
Executive Director
Mississippi River Basin Alliance

Carlton Dufrechou
Executive Director
Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation

Executive Attorney
Save our Wetlands, Inc.

Ivor Van Heerdin, Ph.D.
Scientist
Hurricane Study Center, LSU

John A. McLachlan, Ph.D., Director
Douglas J. Meffert, Deputy Director
Center for Bioenvironmental Research and RiverSphere
Tulane and Xavier Universities

T. Logan Russell
President
Delta Land Trust

Cynthia Sarthou
Executive Director
Gulf Restoration Network

Paul Templet, Ph.D.
Dept. of Environmental Studies
Louisiana State University

Robert Thomas Ph.D.
Institute of Environmental Communications
Loyola University

Robert R. Twilley Ph.D.
Director
Center for Ecology and Environmental Technology
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Confronting Climate Change in the Gulf Coast Region, Co-Author