Rick Crawford
I was introduced to fly fishing in 2008 while working on a guest ranch in Wyoming and immediately fell in love with the sport. You could even say fly fishing healed me in some ways, but I believe that’s because fly fishing expanded my understanding, appreciation and respect for nature. Whether the fish is a wild native cutthroat trout on the Snake River, or a resident tailing redfish on a flat somewhere in the Lowcountry of Georgia and South Carolina, I feel most alive when I am hooked up with a fish because time slows down and everything else disappears. So, it makes sense that I started my business to protect what I love and what makes me feel alive. It just so happens that climate change is the single greatest threat on the planet to the fish that I love so dearly. In fact, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), worldwide global emissions will need to be cut 55% by 2030 and carbon neutral by 2050.
Climate Change
Climate change is impacting the cold water species of the American west in several ways, including: drought, reduced snowpack, increased stream temperatures, invasive species proliferation, and fire. Examples of current climate impacts in the American west are that there are currently 93 large fires have burned more than 1.6 million acres in 13 states as of 8/23/20. Reduced snowpack is causing warmer stream temperatures, and as a result, we are seeing an increasing number of stream closures as well as in increase of aquatic invasive species. Additionally, just this month California’s Death Valley recorded 130 degree Fahrenheit temperature making it the hottest place on planet Earth. Needless to say, but the impact of climate change is happening now, but don’t take my word for it. According to a report from NRDC, “global warming is the single greatest threat to the survival of trout in America’s interior West. If nothing is done to reduce human-produced greenhouse gas emissions—the primary culprit behind global warming—trout habitat throughout the Rocky Mountain region could be reduced by 50 percent or more by the end of the century.”
However, climate change isn’t just impacting our cold water species, it is also affecting marine species. Our oceans are getting warmer, and as the ocean absorbs much of the CO2 from the atmosphere, it is causing a shift in fish migratory patterns and making the ocean more acidic making it more difficult for shelled animals and crustaceans to survive. Additionally, climate change is causing sea level rise and here in Charleston, SC we are an increasing number of sunny day flooding as sea levels have risen one foot over the last century. In fact, Charleston saw a record-breaking 89 tidal floods in 2019 alone. All of this is to say that climate change can no longer be ignored and immediate action must be taken on the individual level, the business level, and especially by elected officials.
Take Action
So, how do we cut global emissions 55% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050? Well, we can all make personal decisions to reduce our carbon footprint, but in order to solve the climate crisis at the scale necessary, we must address climate change at the policy level. Simply put, climate change deniers are no longer welcome in public office. However, because we are the only one’s who have the power to change that by contacting our elected officials. So, the single greatest action we can take is individuals is to contact our elected officials and let them know that, as an angler, you are deeply concerned about the impact of climate change and you need to know what their climate action plan is. The good news is, the Fly Fishing Climate Alliance will be providing more information soon as we are going to be launching the “Fly Fishing Climate Alliance National Call-In Day” for anglers to make our voices heard, so stay tuned!
What can businesses do to ensure that we cut global emissions 55% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and solve the climate crisis? Every business should also strive to reduce their carbon footprint, but more importantly, businesses can also make the decision to go Carbon Neutral, and that’s why we founded the Fly Fishing Climate Alliance. We are an alliance of guides, shops, lodges and brands who believe it is our responsibility to solve the climate crisis so that we can help save the planet, the fish & our businesses. That’s why are are pledging to go Carbon Neutral by 2030. However, we also understand that in order to solve the climate crisis we must implement solutions at the policy level, so be on the lookout for articles, videos and your favorite brands promoting the “Fly Fishing Climate Alliance National Call-In Day” over the coming weeks so that our voices are heard!
I initially started my business because I wanted to protect what I love, but now, having a 23-month old daughter, who means the absolute world to me, and a baby boy on the way, I am fighting for their future. Their future is being threatened by climate change. So, what am I doing about it? I am going to contact my elected officials and tell them to act on climate because my vote depends on it. My company, Emerger Strategies is already a Carbon Neutral company because I don’t want to just talk the talk, but walk the walk. Finally, I founded, and I am a proud member of the Fly Fishing Climate Alliance in an effort to help other businesses go Carbon Neutral. Take the Pledge > Go Carbon Neutral >Fish Forever!