How Do the Oil Companies Affect Coastal Erosion?

Oil companies directly and indirectly contribute to coastal erosion. Clearing and dredging channels through coastal wetlands, oil spills, subsidence from extraction and climate change all cause coastal erosion and all can be linked to oil companies.

Clearing and Dredging Transportation Channels

• Oil companies clear swamps and dredge navigable channels through wetlands to provide more direct access to their rigs from ports. In addition to directly eroding coastal areas, these channels lead to increased erosion by allowing tidewaters to flow inland faster.

Water Pollution

• Water pollution created by oil company activities can kill wetland and shore plants that hold coastal soil in place. Oil spills and chemicals leaked during drilling and transportation pose major threats to coastal vegetation.

Subsidence

• Extraction of large volumes of gas and oil from below coastal areas has led to subsidence. As the earth sinks, ocean water moves in.

Climate Change

• One of the principal causes of climate change is the use of the product that oil companies sell. Burning fossil fuels leads to rising sea levels, which causes coastal erosion.

Potential

• Every year the U.S. government debates energy issues and discusses what the sources of our energy should be. One solution always brought up is to increase offshore drilling. Increasing offshore drilling would almost certainly lead to increased rates of coastal erosion.