The Inflation Reduction Act is a Victory for Coastal Businesses and Communities

President Joe Biden today signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, making significant strides towards meeting his administration’s ambitious climate targets. Over the next 10 years, the landmark legislation will allocate nearly $370 billion for climate and clean energy – the largest ever investment of its kind in U.S. history.

Representing more than 270 shellfish businesses across the country united for climate action, the Shellfish Growers Climate Coalition was elated to see such a bold and meaningful legislative response. In a statement, the coalition’s executive committee thanked Congress and the President for their work on the bill and encouraged them to take additional steps to tackle the climate crisis:

“As we experience the effects of climate change every day, it can be hard for coastal business owners to feel optimistic about the future. But for the first time in a long time, we have real hope for our livelihoods, communities, and ecosystems, all thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. This historic investment in climate solutions will put us many steps closer to the low-carbon world needed to pass this cherished way of life on to our grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“Reducing emissions by 40 percent is no small feat, and we thank Congress and the Biden administration for this monumental accomplishment. However, this is not the end of our battle to address the climate crisis – it’s just the beginning. Every ton of carbon released into the atmosphere makes our planet warmer and our oceans more acidic; our work won’t be done until we reach zero emissions. Doing so will require continuous, concerted effort on the part of our lawmakers, but today’s action indicates that they’re up to the task.”

SGCC’s executive committee includes Sally McGee of The Nature Conservancy, Connecticut; Andy DePaola of DePe’s Oysters, Alabama; Bill Dewey of Taylor Shellfish, Washington; Gary Fleener of Hog Island Oyster Company, California; Davis Herron of Lobster Place, New York; Sarah and Steve Malinowski of Fishers Island Oyster Farm, New York; and Bill Mook of Mook Sea Farm, Maine.

The Shellfish Growers Climate Coalition (SGCC) is a passionate group of shellfish farmers, harvesters, hatchery operators, wholesalers, retailers, and restaurateurs across 24 U.S. states and Canada. Members are committed to bringing about climate action by sharing personal stories about how climate change has impacted their lives and livelihoods. The coalition’s goal is to advocate for sound climate policy and secure a low-carbon future to benefit the shellfish we love and the waters that sustain them—before it's too late. The SGCC was established in 2018 when a group of seven U.S. shellfish farmers partnered with The Nature Conservancy to help move the needle on climate change. To learn more, visit nature.org/shellfish4climate or follow @shellfish4climate on Instagram.