Climate Change and Surfing

Climate change threatens the quality of our oceans and our waves.

As surfers we’re essentially the canaries in the coal mine. Many of us have already seen the effects of the sea level changes at our local beaches and to our local weather patterns. Saying that we remember the surf being better when we were younger may no longer just be due to selective memory, it really probably was.

Despite the fact that climate change may bring more volatile weather and an increase in the storms that generate the swells which create our surf, the negative impacts most certainly outweigh the positives.

Climate change is predicted to increase sea level by between 1-2m by the year 2100. This will markedly alter coastal geography and shift the tidal zones which will affect surf spots that work optimally in low tides.

In some areas where erosion due to sea level rise threatens developed areas, coastal protection schemes such as breakwaters and sea walls may be introduced leading to the extinction of surf spots.

In addition, as the world warms highly sensitive coral reefs are often destroyed. Not only do these reefs produce some of the most spectacular surf on the planet, they also protect the islands they surround from storm damage.

Losing them not only means losing a surf spot, but also coastal communities losing their protection against an ever rising ocean.

Let’s ensure that future generations of surfers don’t have to hear about the good old days, let’s act responsibly today - see some of the things we are doing at the 2009 JBay Pro through our green initaitives.