Healthy and resilient coastlines depend on action by states to properly manage development and prepare for climate change. While the Surfrider Foundation’s 2021 State of the Beach report found only two-thirds of states performing at poor to adequate levels, nine states did improve their scores from last year. The highest scoring states had strong policies for coastal building setbacks, restrictions on coastal armoring, limits on development in harm’s way, and progressive sea level rise policies, as discussed in this episode with Stefanie Sekich-Quinn, Coastal Preservation Manager at the Surfrider Foundation. Stefanie also explains why Gulf Coast and Great Lakes states have low grades, the role of the federal government in state actions, and how advocates can use the report to drive change.

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