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.
Their goal is to protect ocean health and help coastal communities adapt to climate change. (Yale Climate Connections interviews David Helvarg, Director of the Blue Frontier, regarding his work with the Center for the Blue Economy at MIIS on the Ocean Climate Action Plan #BlueNewDeal.)
Dr. Juliano Calil, co-founder of Virtual Planet, climate researcher at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, and Senior Fellow at the Center for the Blue Economy is featured in this Forbes Magazine article for his work on virtual reality 3D immersion to show the effects of sea level rise on specific cities and landscapes.
Most tourists come to the Monterey Bay to enjoy the scenery and to enjoy the fresh, local seafood. Yet not since the early 2000’s have consumers been enjoying entirely local or fresh seafood.
Promoting a sustainable ocean and coastal economy is the mission of the Center for the Blue Economy. We do this through economic research, teaching, and advising on policy for regional, state, and national governments. This story showcases some of 2019’s activities and achievements.
