What does a government agency do when faced with the threat of sea level rise inundating an eight-mile stretch of critical north/south highway (Highway 1), while simultaneously protecting critical habitat of national significance (Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Reserve)? Conduct a study and call upon the experts.
Ocean Climate Action Plan/Blue New Deal gets a shout out: “Last week, a group of activists, scientists, academics and others issued a report calling for policies and other initiatives to generate prosperity while addressing inequity and the climate crisis. They called it the Blue New Deal.”
The House Democrats’ report, “Solving the Climate Crisis,” is the most comprehensive response to the climate emergency in the history of Congress. This is a great splash forward that all Americans should support, however it misses key elements addressed in the Ocean Climate Action Plan-Blue New Deal. With additional recommendations from the Ocean Climate Action Plan, we could both meet our climate targets and revitalize our economy from sea to shining sea.
The pandemic has rocked our economy and further destroyed confidence in government. Enter “one of the most active” hurricane seasons on record. Story by CBE Senior Fellow and Partner in the Blue New Deal initiative, David Helvarg.
For the first time, the U.S. Dept. of Commerce will officially measure the economic contributions of the oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes in national income accounts. The Center for the Blue Economy’s Dr. Charles Colgan and the National Ocean Economics Program team have been innovating and advocating for 21 years to make this happen.
In the midst of all the pandemic news and protests for racial justice sweeping the nation, sometimes ocean-related news can get lost in the mix. But it’s important to remember that the Ocean Climate Action Plan (OCAP) outlined in this article is not only a plan to address our climate emergency, but to build strong, just, and equitable coastal communities and to build a new Blue Economy for the 21st century, putting America back to work in good, stable jobs.
