U.S. States Call for Ocean Climate Action At COP26

As members of the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification, U.S. States are calling for federal ocean and climate action at COP26.

At COP26, we join others in commending the creation of Biden- Harris Administration’s Ocean Policy Committee and encourage the design and implementation of an ambitious U.S. Ocean Climate Action Plan.  We are additionally calling for the Biden Administration, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to join the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification. By taking these actions, the United States can also “lead by doing” internationally, allowing our domestic actions to rebuild our credibility while providing aid and technical assistance aimed at supporting rapid uptake of global solutions and equity for the most vulnerable nations.  

As U.S. states, we will continue our efforts to implement on-the-ground actions that address ocean climate impacts. We commit our support to the following actions and we call on others, including our federal partners, to join us in leading on ocean and climate action: 

(1) Implement aggressive climate action through carbon emissions reductions; achieving ambitious emission reductions targets is the most important step in turning the tide of climate impacts on our ocean.

(2) Increase mitigation and adaptation through natural and working lands, nature-based solutions, and blue carbon measures which will also support the implementation of federal 30 X 30 goals and targets.

(3) Upgrade and modernize wastewater and stormwater systems that can help reduce local and land based source contributions of pollution that further exacerbate coastal warming, acidification, and deoxygenation.

(4) Integrate the ocean into international climate policy efforts on an ongoing basis, such as pathways recommended by the UNFCCC Climate and Ocean Dialogue. Sharing information on ocean solutions and actions can help us all do more to reduce ocean and coastal impacts and build resilience faster.

(5) Increase international, domestic and regional finance for science-based ocean mitigation and resilience strategies—including actionable science to inform policy and the robust implementation UN SDG 14.3 which requires targeted monitoring at regional scales “to minimize and address OA.”

(6) Integrate ocean actions into climate policies at the domestic level, including through the creation of Ocean Climate Action Plans and OA Action Plans.

(7) Ensure Tribal sovereigns, First Nations and indigenous peoples’ knowledge, leadership and priorities as well as those of overburdened communities are reflected across ocean and coastal climate change response strategies and processes, including consideration of tribal treaty rights and responsibilities.

U.S. State Actors participate in COP26 Side Event on November 8, “Integrated Policies for Ocean Climate Action: Building Coastal Resiliency in the U.S.” hosted by the OA Alliance.

 From left: Chair of Department of Land and Natural Resources, Suzanne Case, State of Hawai’I; Senator Chris Lee, Hawai’i State Legislature; Governor Kate Brown, State of Oregon; Governor Jay Inslee, State of Washington; Director of NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program, Dr. Libby Jewett; Secretary of Environment, Ben Grumbles, State of Maryland; Mr. Simon Reddy, PEW Charitable Trusts; Secretary of Natural Resources, Wade Crowfoot, State of California.