164. Is an Outdoor Recreation Economy How We Stop Off-Shore Drilling? with Chad Nelsen

First, let me start by saying that the devastation from the wildfires in the LA area is horrific. Our hearts go out to everyone who has had to experience a climate disaster. Unfortunately, these events will likely become more frequent and widespread. We plan to discuss climate disasters more and how to prepare for them in the future, but for now, we will focus on some policies that no doubt influence and fuel climate change. 

In episode 164 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we discuss offshore drilling. More specifically, we will learn about the intersection between outdoor recreation economies and how activities like offshore drilling impact them. 

To help explain the scope of this issue, I had the pleasure of sitting down to chat with Chad Nelsen. 

Dr. Chad Nelsen is the CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, the world’s largest grassroots coastal and ocean conservation organization dedicated to protecting and enjoying the world’s oceans, waves, and beaches. Chad has over 25 years of experience in ocean and coastal conservation and works at the intersection of advocacy, ocean recreation, and grassroots organizing to confront some of our most pressing challenges, including climate change, plastic pollution, and poor water quality. 

With a geology degree from Brown University, a Masters in Coastal Environmental Management from Duke University, and an Environmental Science and Engineering doctorate from UCLA, Chad has a strong foundation in science, policy, and management. Through his research at UCLA, Chad became a founder in the field of “surfonomics,” the study of the economic values of surfing and ocean recreation. 

Chad lives in Laguna Beach with his family and enjoys surfing, hiking, mountain biking, climbing, and snowboarding with his family. 

After this interview was recorded, President Biden announced the withdrawal of the entire US East Coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, and additional portions of the northern Bering Sea in Alaska from future oil and gas leasing. Taken under the authority of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, this permanently protects more than 625 million acres of US Waters from any future oil and gas development in 5-year offshore drilling plans developed by the federal government. 

Surfrider and Chad Nelsen released a statement about this on January 6th: 

"The Surfrider Foundation applauds the Biden administration for withdrawing these waters from future oil and gas leasing. Offshore drilling is a dirty and damaging practice that harms our ocean as well as communities and businesses while worsening climate change. The President's historic action is a key step toward ending oil and gas drilling in US waters. We call on our federal leaders to take further steps to ensure that all US coasts are protected from this harmful industry,"

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Surfrider Foundation

Website: https://www.surfrider.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Surfrider/

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/surfrider/