Washington, D.C. — More than a year after the Trump administration announced plans to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change, many U.S. cities, states, and businesses have vowed to continue supporting the plan to reduce climate pollution.
To advance this effort internationally, a new analysis from the Center for American Progress and Climate Advisers argues that the nonfederal supporters of the agreement should focus on ocean-based solutions in climate diplomacy.
By widely pursuing international cooperation on ocean-based climate solutions, the U.S. nonfederal climate movement can better integrate ocean and climate policy globally, which could be the next major step forward in the international climate effort, the analysis says.
“Despite the significant role that the ocean plays in mitigating and adapting to climate change, the ocean is still not a mainstream topic for climate diplomacy,” said Gwynne Taraska, senior fellow for International Climate Policy at Climate Advisers and co-author of the analysis.
Ocean-based climate solutions include:
- Reversing the loss of “blue carbon” ecosystems
- Addressing ocean acidification
- Creating and managing marine protected areas
- Promoting food security
- Collaborating on green ports and reducing shipping emissions
- Supporting “green infrastructure” for coastal protection
- Cooperating on survival plans for climate-threatened marine species
Read the issue brief: “Elevating Ocean-Based Climate Solutions: An Opportunity for U.S. Nonfederal Diplomacy” by Gwynne Taraska and Margaret Cooney.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected] or 202.478.6327.