cartoon wave over federal capital with words ocean climate action

The Ocean Climate Action campaign has resulted in huge wins for the oceans, coasts, and the climate movement. Learn more about the work that led up these historic accomplishments and help us continue the fight.  Many policies and projects have been fully funded prior to the change in administration.   Billions of dollars are out the door, and cannot be revoked.  The ripples of the Ocean Climate Action movement continue.  

No Water No Life No Blue No Green--Dr. Sylvia Earle

“Many billions of dollars have already been allocated, and despite the illegal actions of the current administration to block congressionally appropriated funds, we expect the rest to be dispersed unless congress changes the law. We are proud that we helped to get this critical work started and it will continue at the state, national, and international levels no matter what the current administration does because it is both wise economically, but also a key part of building climate resilience in the 21st century.”

Jason Scorse, Director of the Center for the Blue Economy, Chair of the Environmental Policy and Management master’s degree program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. 

A Brief History of the Ocean Climate Action Movement


The blue planet as a watercolor impression on blue/white wave background--the text is OCEAN CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

In 2019, the Center for the Blue Economy and partner organization Blue Frontier led a national coalition of NGOs, legislators, environmental justice activists, industry leaders, and academics to develop the blueprint for a national  Ocean Climate Action Plan (OCAP).  We published our initial report in July of 2020.

Blue background with blue wave of stars, text is OCEAN CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

The campaign was incredibly successful, leading to the inclusion of billions of dollars in ocean climate funding in two major federal bills—the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. In addition, the Biden-Harris Administration enacted many ocean climate executive actions and in March 2023 released its own U.S. Ocean Climate Action Plan that largely mirrors our recommendations.

We held the Biden-Harris Administration to account with a series of “Ocean Climate Action Report Cards.”  In June 2023, we published “Turning U.S. Ocean Climate Policy into Action,”  a report that specifically highlighted actions the Administration could take without Congressional approval to equitably and efficiently make ocean-climate action a reality. In June 2024, we published an update:  Turning the Tide: Biden Administration Leadership on Ocean Climate Action & Recommended Next Steps.”

Report Cover for “Turning the Tide: Biden Administration Leadership on Ocean Climate Action & Recommended Next Steps”
A visual representation of the 10 areas of key actions needed to protect our oceans and our climate.

Many of our policy recommendations are now included in national law or policy frameworks, and cannot be undone by executive order.

The Biden Administration’s legacy of leadership across federal agencies, combined with unprecedented ocean and coastal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, positioned the US as a global leader to leverage the ocean as a source of climate solutions.  We still have strong ocean climate leadership in Congress, and a relentless nationwide network of ocean advocates.  Our country is ushering in a new era of ocean climate action. 

As climate impacts on our ocean continue to intensify, it will be critical to build on the strong momentum for ocean climate action generated over the last several years and continue to take bold action to address the climate crisis.

CARLOS DEL TORO, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY quote on the urgency of ocean climate action

What Can YOU do?  

  • READ the report which is brief, direct, and will give you the background you need to understand how important the ocean is to the climate crisis, and what we can do to harness ocean solutions.
  • CONTACT your lawmakers and urge them to take OCEAN CLIMATE ACTION.
  • SHARE on social media & talk about climate solutions with your community.  
Quote from J.R. LITTLEJOHN, ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY, BUREAU OF OCEANS AND INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS

What are ocean-based solutions to the climate crisis? 

Ocean Climate Connection Explained

Our colleagues at the Ocean Defense Initiative have put out this great video explainer.

The ocean, the Great Lakes, our nations rivers and estuaries buffer the effects of climate change by sequestering carbon, protecting from storm surge, stabilizing weather patterns, and fostering biodiversity. Climate change and ocean health are often thought about as separate silos, when the two are interconnected.  Climate change is warming the ocean and changing their chemistry.  Without ocean health, the entire planetary water cycle and oxygen cycle are in danger.  The ocean sequesters huge amounts of carbon dioxide helping to cool the planet, but that may not continue with “business as usual.”  Climate change affects even those far from any coastline.  We must solve the ocean climate challenge together, and we have a short window of time to take action. 

Ocean-based climate solutions refer to investments and innovations in:

  • Clean Ocean Energy: It’s time for federal investment into research and development of wind, wave and tidal energy.   We must address the rising temperatures on the planet affecting the ocean and all life on earth and move towards sustainable energy.  The Ocean Climate Action Coalition supports (and we believe influenced) the Biden executive action to allow 30GW of offshore wind leasing by 2030.
  • Job-Producing Shoreline Restoration to Promote Climate Resilience:  Storm intensity is increasing, and sea levels are rising, making storm surges and flooding more intense.  The Ocean Climate Action Coalition supports calls for federal funding through NOAA to create jobs building living shorelines and natural barriers for our coasts, ports, and along inland rivers and the Great Lakes (the Civilian Conservation Corps).  Nature-based solutions will save lives, save taxpayer money, and create wildlife habitat.  It’s time to move post-disaster funding into pre-disaster planning.
  • Green Ports and Shipping: It’s time to rapidly accelerate the decarbonization of U.S. ports and the shipping industry, and in doing so, dramatically improve air and water quality in adjacent communities.  The Ocean Climate Action Coalition supports calls for federal funding through EPA to modernize and green our ports.
  • 30x30: It’s time to establish a network of Marine Protected Areas covering at least 30% of U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone waters to provide public benefit and increase climate resilience.  Marine protected areas have a proven track record of helping the nations fisheries and marine biodiversity to recover and flourish.
  • Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture: It’s time to catalyze rapid growth and innovation in a climate resilient and sustainable seafood industry, which includes aquaculture, mariculture, and plant and cell-based seafood alternatives.

About the Ocean Climate Action Coalition


You cannot protect the oceans without solving climate change, and you cannot solve climate change without protecting the oceans--John Kerry

Here is a brief timeline to call to mind how inspiring and effective this movement has been, building on 50+ years of climate science and 20+ years of climate advocacy:

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.

 

P.O.C.

For questions and suggestions, please contact the Ocean Climate Action Coalition co-organizer:

Jason Scorse
Director of the Center for the Blue Economy
jscorse@miis.edu
centerfortheblueeconomy.org
 

Blue Frontier Logo and Center for the Blue Economy Logo
Sierra Club and Inland Ocean Coalition logos