On+the+Louisiana+Coast

//Ted Jackson. "On the Louisiana Coast, A Native Community Sinks Slowly into the Sea." Yale E360. n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2018. // //Article: On the Louisiana Coast, A Native Community Sinks Slowly into the Sea //

**Date Accessed:** April 1, 2018 **Source:** Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies //The Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Indians of southern Louisiana have been called America’s first climate refugees. But two years after receiving federal funding to move to higher ground, the tribe is stuck in limbo, waiting for new homes as the water inches closer to their doors. //

**Summary:** This article discusses the forced migration of native tribes in southern Louisiana because of land loss. The acres of land that were sacred to these native tribes are lost as they are forced to leave them because of “unprecedented soil subsidence [declining groundwater levels], sea level rise, and the thousands of oil and gas canals that have allowed saltwater intrusion and erosion. This can all be attributed to reckless human activity which has greatly degraded the environment. Already, in the last century, over 2,000 square miles of land have been lost in Louisiana alone. This is described as a “vanishing state coast” that is being swallowed by the sea. Besides deleteriously impacting these natives, land loss has eliminated the buffer of trees and dense marsh that once protected Louisiana from hurricanes and other forms of extreme weather. Further, coastal erosion has increased which has put beachfront properties at risk as well as forcing other locals to have to move away from the area. Louisiana has the economic burden of relocating these people ($45 million) and this goes to show that if we don’t consider the long-term consequences of climate change (economic factors included), we will have to pay the hefty pricce.

**Relevance to Course:** This is relevant to environmental science because it discusses the adverse effects of global warming—specifically, rising sea levels (Miller 512). Further, it strongly relates to the coursework we are studying; in “Sustaining Ecosystems: Land Use, Conservation, and Management”, the role of government in resource conservation is heavily discussed. In recent times, the role of government in protecting the environment has increased (Miller 610). Further, “Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability” heavily emphasizes the matter of living sustainably. A sustainable society manages its economy and population size without exceeding all or part of the planet’s ability to absorb environmental insults, replenish its resources, and sustain human and other forms of life over a specified period (Miller 5). An environmental problem that arises from not living sustainably is global warming, and unfortunately, sea levels will rise which will negatively affect us humans.

**Opinion:** I recently analyzed the annual NASA temperature report. According to the report, last year (2017) was one of the hottest years on record. One of the critical reasons for these ominously high temperatures is human action (e.g., industrial emissions, improper disposal of waste) in the environment. Already, we can see the consequences of our actions in southern Louisiana as the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Indians struggle to deal with our irresponsible actions—making them America’s first climate refugees. If positive environmental action is not taken immediately and effectively, there will be further consequences and even more “climate refugees”. I believe that it is the job of both local and national governments to implement regulations and ordinances that will support the environment in the long term.


 * Environmental Law: **New research shows that countries around the world are falling short of greenhouse gas goals in the Paris climate deal, and one of the many consequences of this is global warming, which essentially leads to rising sea levels (Ellis). The Paris climate deal is one of many examples of ordinances and agreements that have been implemented in the hopes of preserving and protecting the environment and ozone layer by limiting greenhouse gases. “We are not prepared for today’s climate, let alone for another degree of global warming,” says study author Noah Diffenbaugh, a Stanford University professor of earth system science. Unfortunately, the withdrawal of the United States, a key polluter, from the Paris climate accord is a step backwards for the environment. Another example is the Clean Air Act of of 1970 (42 U.S.C. §7401 et seq.); it relates to reducing the rate of global warming. This regulation governs air emissions from both stationary and mobile sources; prioritizing the enforcement of laws such as this one would significantly aid in the pollution cleanup system.

Ted Jackson. "On the Louisiana Coast, A Native Community Sinks Slowly into the Sea." Yale E360. n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2018. < [] > US EPA. "Summary of the Clean Air Act | US EPA." US EPA. 22 Feb. 2013. Web. 11 Sept. 2017. < [] <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">> <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">NBC News. "NASA says 2017 was one of the hottest years on record." NBC News. n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2018. < <span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">[] <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">>
 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Resources: **