Statement on the Release of the First-Ever Ocean Climate Action Plan

Urban Ocean Lab welcomes the release of the first-ever, whole-of-government Ocean Climate Action Plan. In the U.S., 65 million people live in coastal cities. Storms, flooding, rising seas and erosion fueled by climate change have already led to a considerable loss of life and billions of dollars of damage in coastal cities—disproportionately impacting historically-disadvantaged communities. 

While coastal cities have high exposure to climate risks, they also play an important role in developing equitable and just ocean-climate solutions that benefit lives and livelihoods, and coastal economies and ecosystems. The Ocean Climate Action Plan sets the stage for coastal cities to help catalyze transformative ocean-climate action. Urban Ocean Lab looks forward to working with coastal city leaders and the Ocean Policy Committee to support these solutions with ocean justice in mind.