Dear Senator Murkowski, Senator Begich and Congressman Young,

As Alaskans from all walks of life, we place great value on our rich and wild seafood resources, seeing them not only as critical to our livelihoods and the economy, but also as fundamental to our heritage and culture.

But scientists from Alaska and around the world are warning us that the waters nourishing our fish and marine life face an uncertain future. Millions of tons of carbon dioxide emitted from smokestacks and tailpipes are absorbed by the world oceans each day, causing them to become more acidic, and posing a serious threat to our valuable fisheries and way of life.

We must heed those warnings if we are to leave our children a different legacy, one that honors Alaskans’ deeply-rooted traditions and sustains our economy.

Therefore, we urge you to take a leading role in protecting the economic engine of our coastal communities by supporting bold, science-based solutions that will:

1. Pivot us away from fossil fuel dependence, advance energy conservation and move us toward a clean energy future, with strong standards for energy efficiency, renewable energy and growth in green jobs.

2. Achieve the scientific recommendations of the International Panel on Climate Change that would reduce carbon emissions at least 25% below 1990 levels by 2020, and at least 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.

3. Mobilize Alaskans and the nation to create new jobs in energy efficiency, transportation and renewable energy technologies including wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, tidal, current, and ocean wave power generation.

Signed,