The White House Announces "America's First-Ever Ocean Climate Action Plan"
On June 8th, 2022, World Ocean Day, . The Center for the Blue Economy, Blue Frontier, and our coalition of Ocean Climate Action partners celebrate this announcement! Is it coincidence that they have titled it the Ocean Climate Action Plan? We think not!
- “The Biden-Harris Administration will develop and implement a first-ever, whole-of-government Ocean Climate Action Plan. The Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Council on Environmental Quality, Co-Chairs of the announced that the Committee will work in coordination with the White House Climate Policy Office to develop a whole-of-government Ocean Climate Action Plan that will guide significant ocean-based climate mitigation and adaptation actions, including green shipping, ocean-based renewable energy, blue carbon, and other ocean-related solutions. The Committee will a National Sustainable Ocean Plan that will help guide sustainable economic development of U.S. ocean and coastal waters.”
Reading this on World Ocean Day 2022, and considering the three years of effort made to raise awareness about the connection between the oceans, Great Lakes, our rivers and estuaries to climate change—the Ocean Climate Action Coalition should be very proud! We can and should take a moment to celebrate this victory!
The following day, the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis held a hearing entitled, “.”&Բ;&Բ;
As of June 2022, the language of our Ocean Climate Action Plan has gained traction at every level of government, and the Ocean Climate Action Coalition had a significant role in building that momentum.
Here is a brief timeline, to refresh our memories and call to mind how inspiring and effective this movement has been:
- March 2019—“,” outlines the initial 8-point plan.
- October 2019--A meeting of California leaders was convened to refine and expand the initial ideas (60 participants)
- January 2020—the first consensus draft of the Ocean Climate Action Plan (OCAP) was released and national comment sought (200 collaborators)
- April 2020—an was held to further vet the ideas in the Ocean Climate Action Plan, and take public comment (800 participants)
- July 2020—the final draft of the Ocean Climate Action Plan was released (with input from 1000+ people)
- November 2020—OCAP goals & language adapted for
- March 2021—In his first week in office, President Biden expands federal leasing to —a specific Ocean Climate Action Plan recommendation.
- April 2021—Ocean Climate Action (Virtual) Lobby Day. : the Ocean Climate Action Coalition held meetings with 107 Members of the House of Representatives and 33 Senators (1000+ people mobilized)
- April 2021—The Biden-Harris Administration commits to promoting living shorelines and decarbonizing the maritime sector, key OCAP goals as part of the US (NDCs).
- November 2021—Key elements of the OCAP plan were passed as part of (a down payment on clean ports and clean energy)
- December 2021—the Biden-Harris Administration announces an executive order to , another key OCAP goal.
- June 2022-- was announced by the White House on June 8, 2022 (World Ocean Day)
- June 2022—The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis holds a hearing entitled, “,” on June 9, 2022.
- August 2022--The Senate and the House pass , which includes $369 billion (over 10 years) in funding for climate adaptation, mitigation, and clean energy.
Looking back, it is remarkable how a small group of people grew into a national movement that is fulfilling it’s intended purpose: strong local and federal ocean-climate policy signed into law as soon as possible. The climate emergency is an ocean emergency. There is no time to waste.
During National Ocean Month, we celebrate the beauty and bounty of our ocean and reaffirm our commitment to protecting and conserving our marine environments for a sustainable future.
