GLASGOW – The following statement was issued by Amy Trice, director of Ocean Conservancy’s Ocean Planning program, in reaction to the new ocean policy commitment made by the U.S. announcement at the 26^th UNFCCC Conference of Parties today:

“Ocean Conservancy welcomes President Biden’s announcement that the U.S. will become the 15^th nation to join the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy.  This high level body is comprised of world leaders who can trigger, amplify and accelerate global progress for ocean policy, governance, technology and finance. The U.S. brings expertise and experience in ecosystem-scale planning and cutting-edge science and technology that will be an asset to the Panel’s future efforts.

“The leaders gathered at Glasgow must ensure that a sustainable ocean future is a primary consideration in global climate negotiations. Climate change is the greatest threat facing our ocean and everything from food security for billions of people, to climate resilience and international trade depend on the ability of our ocean to stay healthy and productive. There is too much to lose.

“Ocean Conservancy calls for ambitious and bold international climate action that will limit warming to 1.5⁰C and provide necessary funding and resources to help the millions of people who face the ocean impacts of climate change today. We look forward to working with the U.S. as it develops a strategy to advance a sustainable ocean future.”

###

Notes to Editor

• Amy Trice, director of Ocean Conservancy’s Ocean Planning program, was a co-author of “Blue Paper 14: Integrated Ocean Management” for the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy.
• The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel) was established in September 2018 to catalyze bold, pragmatic solutions for realizing a sustainable ocean economy, where protecting and restoring the ocean to health is essential for producing more from it, so that people can prosper equitably.
• Joining the Ocean Panel, the U.S. commits to a series of transformative actions including developing a sustainable ocean futures plan by 2025.

Amy Trice is available for comment upon request.

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit http://www.oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.