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What are MBE and Why Do they Matter?
What are MBE and Why Do they Matter?
Oceans provide significant benefits to the Earth, humans, and all living creatures. In addition to the many resources humans harvest (fish, sea vegetables, oil, medicine, and more), the oceans absorb an estimated 9/10ths of the heat from global warming (YaleEnvironment360) and approximately 26% of the global CO2 from greenhouse gas emissions (Earth System Science Data). Increases in greenhouse gas emissions create warmer oceans which influence not just one ecosystem, but all global weather patterns and climate over time. The resulting increase in sea surface temperature and rising sea levels are threatening current human-built systems.
Human generated pollution (agriculture runoff, pipelines, plastic and noise, overfishing, and landscapes) have resulted in habitat degradation and endangered species. Communities that have been under-resources, and often communities of color along shorelines are hardest hit by polluted water and extreme weather, and are more dependent on the ocean for their daily existence (YaleEnvironment360).
Schools have already been impacted by sea level rise through increased flooding and infrastructure damage. It is important that schools take action by planning for sea level rise, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and becoming stewards of marine-based ecosystems.
Key Mandates
Key Mandates
What are the key mandates and policies for protecting MBE & Shorelines California?
What are the key mandates and policies for protecting MBE & Shorelines California?
Marine Life Protection Act (1999): Created to protect California's marine protected areas through the implementation of region network agencies, research opportunities, and education to the general public. San Mateo County is part of the San Francisco Bay Area Region.
The McAteer-Petris Act (1965): Established the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) to preserve and manage filling the San Francisco Bay waters for urban development.
To learn see additional related laws and mandates visit HERE
MBE and Shoreline Communities Goals and Strategies
MBE and Shoreline Communities Goals and Strategies
What is a reasonable goal for an educational institution to reduce its impacts on marine ecosystems and protect San Mateo County shoreline communities, and what are strategies for achieving this goal?
What is a reasonable goal for an educational institution to reduce its impacts on marine ecosystems and protect San Mateo County shoreline communities, and what are strategies for achieving this goal?
Goal Example: Promote the conservation of marine-based ecosystems and plan for the risks of sea level rise.
Goal Example: Promote the conservation of marine-based ecosystems and plan for the risks of sea level rise.
Conservation
Conservation of marine-based ecosystems resources is an effective strategy schools can take towards becoming stewards of ocean and shorelines. Conservation can take the form of:
Policies and Practices: Schools can adopt environmentally - preferable purchasing policies that promote sustainable seafood sourcing, reduction of PFA's and plastics, or other toxic chemicals that pollute marine-based ecosystems.
Stewardship: Schools can promote stewardship through volunteerism and educational programs with local coastal conservation agencies.
Mitigate Sea Level Rise
Schools in San Mateo County are already experiencing the impacts of increased flooding from sea level rise. With rising sea levels and more extreme schools need to take action to safeguard infrastructure, prevent erosion, and plan for increased flooding events. Schools can partner with other agencies and jurisdictions in San Mateo County that are identifying and prioritizing city-scale and regional shoreline protection measures.
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