An octopus in the garage prompts climate change lawyer to take action

What you probably already know: About nine years ago, a real estate agent named Richard Conlin walked into the parking garage of his Miami Beach condo building and stepped into about six inches of water. That wasn’t terribly unusual — low-level parking garages often flood in Miami. What was unusual is what he saw at his feet: A live octopus. The creature had apparently come in through the drainage pipes straight from the ocean. The incident made local news and caught climate change attorney and professor Rob Verchick’s attention. It became the title of his book, The Octopus in the Parking Garage — a Call for Climate Resilience, which lays out some practical ways everyday people can help move the needle on the issue of climate change. He spoke in Seattle at an event moderated by Formidable Founding Member Michelle Connor, who is the CEO of Forterra, a Washington state land trust. Here are a few takeaways from the discussion, which took place on Thursday:

Sea level rise and community relocation: There are communities across the U.S. that have already begun the process of relocating due to climate change, extreme weather and sea level rise. Nearly all of these communities are indigenous, including several in Alaska. One group, on the Isle de Jean Charles in Louisiana, has struggled to relocate because the tribe wasn’t formally recognized by the federal government, and thus could not qualify for allocated relocation funds. Often seemingly unconnected issues prevent communities that want to move from doing so, and many need assistance from advocates in positions of power. There was a social vulnerability index map created by the Health and Human Services Department that aimed to help communities better prepare for the potential impacts of extreme weather on the most vulnerable communities, but those maps were removed after Trump took office. They’ve since been restored after a court order, but there is a banner across them saying that the administration does not believe in the data because it “promotes gender ideology.” Other maps utilized by social and climate scientists have been permanently removed, making the work to protect those most vulnerable much harder.

Coral is on the ropes: It’s estimated in that only about 20 years, coral may be extinct due to ocean acidification and climate change. Coral makes up only about 1% of the ocean floor but supports about 25% of all sea life. About $3.8 trillion of services rely on coral, including everything from fisheries to tourism to protection of shoreline property. Groups have begun coral restoration efforts in areas off the coast of Florida, Hawaii and other regions, but these efforts will only work in concert with reductions in wastewater pollution and overfishing. Plus, we need to stop warming the ocean. The ocean is like a hot water bottle, Verchick said. It will retain its heat for more than 100 years even if we stopped overheating it today.

Change the language, fix the problem: The issue of climate change and extreme weather affects everyone but has become highly politicized. As a result, it can be difficult to convince some populations to get involved. However, when the terminology is shifted ever so slightly, it’s more likely to get widespread approval. Verchick pointed to a $50 billion coastal restoration project underway in Louisiana that was first supported by climate change denier Gov. Bobby Jindal, a Republican, and continues to be supported by current Gov. Jeff Landry, also a Republican climate change denier. The plan would protect and restore thousands of miles of Louisiana coast, which will be a boon to homeowners, fisheries and communities seeking protection from extreme weather, as well as to the ecosystem that lives there. The bill that was passed has almost no mentions of climate in the text, but ultimately achieves what many climate change bills have failed to do: Pour federal and state money into natural habitat restoration.