Washington, D.C. – The following statement was issued by Anne Merwin, Vice President of Conservation at Ocean Conservancy, in advance of the U.S. announcement of its updated Nationally Determined Contribution:

“If we want to keep our planet and ocean healthy, the U.S. must be more ambitious than ever and commit to at least a 50% reduction in emissions over 2005 levels by 2030 in its updated climate commitment as part of the Paris Agreement.

“To reach this level of ambition, the U.S. needs to take full advantage of ocean-based solutions.  That includes ramping up offshore wind and eliminating emissions from the shipping industry, which globally are equivalent to those of a G7 country. As part of its updated climate strategy, the U.S. needs both to set a goal of complete decarbonization of the U.S. shipping fleet and industry by 2035, and to lead efforts at the International Maritime Organization to adopt ambitious measures that place international shipping on a pathway consistent with Paris Agreement goals. Current international shipping industry climate goals, which fall outside the Paris Agreement, remain far out of line with the reductions needed to limit global warming to 1.5C degrees.

“By including such ambitious goals in its climate commitment, the U.S. will move our economy in line with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5C degree warming target and set an international example for other countries to follow.”

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Anne Merwin is available for interviews upon request.

Notes to Editors:

• The shipping industry’s climate targets are currently set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and not the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which is the UN body that the Paris Agreement falls under. The U.S. is a part of the IMO, but in recent years it hasn’t been a leader on emissions reductions within that forum.
• Current IMO climate goals call for “at least” 50% emissions reductions by 2050.
• As re-entrants of the Paris Agreement, the U.S. is required to submit a new Nationally Determined Contribution in advance of COP26 this fall.
• The Biden administration is expected to announce the updated U.S. Nationally Determined Contribution in advance of or at its Earth Day Summit on April 22.

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.