Ocean Climate Action Summit Washington D.C.

OCAP has two main objectives:

1. To use ocean and coastal resources to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and
2. To help coastal communities to equitably adapt to climate change impacts. 

The policy recommendations being developed can also be used as a template for state legislation in large coastal states, such as California, Florida, Alaska, and Louisiana. The Center for the Blue Economy and Blue Frontier are acting as convenors for a diversity of stakeholders in this collaborative, nonpartisan effort. Time is running out to mitigate the worst aspects of climate change.  There is an urgent need to put in place sensible policies to ensure continued prosperity in the coastal regions, which are ground zero for climate impacts.

Background:

On January 13th the first consensus draft of the Ocean Climate Action Plan was released (based on comments from our Oct.18 meeting in California). After a comment period, the second draft was released on March 12th, 2020. From there, Ocean Climate Action Plan will be taken to D.C. for a series of national meetings September 15-17, 2020.

After the D.C. meeting, we will produce a final draft endorsed by the major ocean and coastal NGOs and industries in the US.  From there the framework will be translated into legislation that can be acted on at the federal level in the new Congress of 2021, as well as at the state level.

OCAP Webinar:  April 29, 2020—Open to the Public

On Wednesday, April 29th, from 9:00am-2:00pm (PST)/ 12:00pm-5:00pm (EST) we will host keynote speakers on each of the four topics covered in the Ocean Climate Action Plan (OCAP).  The basic agenda is below, and attendees may join for all or any portion of the event.  We will send out a Zoom video-conference link along with a more detailed agenda in the beginning of April to those who register for the webinar.  (REGISTER HERE)

Save the Date:  Ocean Climate Action Summit:  September 15-17, 2020—Invitation Only

In keeping with COVID-19 precautions, our original event (planed for April 2020) has been postponed.   We will write to all previous invitees, a remarkable group of individuals,  in hopes they will join us for the rescheduled Ocean Climate Action Summit.  Until we are sure that the pandemic has abated we won’t finalize the September meeting, but to all those who received an invitation previously, please mark your calendars. 

Attendees

Eventually, we will circulate (to attendees only) the list of confirmed participants, but for now, here is a list of organizations that have been invited to the OCAP Summit.

The meeting will include high-level representatives from industry, government, academia, and the NGO community, with roughly 40 people per session. Each session will be introduced by a brief keynote. The majority of the time will be devoted to a facilitated discussion, with the session attendees divided into two smaller groups, coming back together at the end of the session to share feedback.  Our goal is to use the work from this meeting to begin crafting legislation with Congressional leaders in 2021.

We are not asking participants (other than keynotes) to give a speech or be on a panel—we are hoping invitees will actively engage in the discussion group/s, lending a unique perspective.   We are inviting a select list to represent a depth of experience, and broad viewpoints, while keeping each discussion group small, in a relaxed, informal, and collegial atmosphere.

In terms of press or media, we are not inviting any to the discussion groups—those are closed sessions so all can feel free to be candid.  We will be inviting press and the public to our Hill Day activities in order to get the word out about this work and mobilize support. 

Middlebury College D.C. Office

Venue Location for Sessions (Day 1 and Day 3):  Middlebury Institute of International Studies, Washington, D.C. Office, 1400 K Street, N.W., Suite 1225, Washington, D.C. 20005-2420

Parking Information:

• Building: The building has a subterranean parking garage. The garage’s entrance is located in the alleyway off K Street N.W. To enter, drive east on K Street N.W. and enter the divided service lane after crossing 15th Street N.W. Turn right into the alleyway then left into the garage entrance. Please note the parking lot in the building closes at 7:00 p.m. and we cannot validate parking. The parking garage at 1425 K St. NW is open until 9:00 pm.
  
   
• Street: There is limited street parking on both sides of K Street N.W.  Enter the divided service lane on either side of K Street N.W. after crossing 12th, 13th, or 14th Street N.W. if you are driving westward or after crossing 15th Street N.W. if you are driving eastward. There are electronic pay stations that replaced traditional coin meters.  Parking enforcement officers are very active around the building.

Venue/Location map:

Venue Information:   Attendees will check in at a security desk upon entering at the ground floor; please be sure to bring identification.  Head to the elevators or stairs, and look for the glass doors of the Middlebury suite 1225.   The Center for the Blue Economy staff will greet you, check you in, and offer coffee/tea/breakfast refreshments.

Metro

• Orange/Blue/Silver Line: Closest Metro stop is McPherson Square. Take the 14th Street/Franklin Square exit. Make a U-turn out of the escalators and walk one block north on 14th Street N.W. Turn left on K Street N.W. The building entrance is next to the PNC Bank.

• Red Line: Closest Metro stop is Farragut North. Take the K Street exit. Turn left out of the escalators and walk east on K Street N.W. The office is on the fifth block on the south side of the street. The building entrance is next to the PNC Bank.

Nearby Hotels

There are several hotels within walking distance.  (Middlebury does not have any agreements for special rates in place with these hotels)

• The Hamilton Hotel
• The Hilton Garden Inn
• Capital Hilton
• Hyatt Place - White House
• Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square
• Residence Inn by Marriott Washington DC Downtown
• The Architect
• Eaton Hotel

P.O.C.s

More information will be added to this page as we have venue information for Hill Day and the Hill Day reception.  For questions and suggestions, please contact the co-organizers and hosts:

Jason Scorse

Director of the Center for the Blue Economy

jscorse@miis.edu

centerfortheblueeconomy.org

David Helvarg

Author and Executive Director of Blue Frontier

helvarg@bluefront.org

bluefront.org

Rachel Christopherson

Program Manager, Center for the Blue Economy

rchristo@miis.edu

831-647-4183