Washington, D.C. — Today, the Department of the Interior released a landmark report, which lays out a ten-year goal of protecting 30 percent of U.S. land and ocean by 2030. The plan establishes the United States’ first national conservation goal, a bold vision for safeguarding America’s water and wildlife that will support the efforts of people across the country — including rural communities, Indigenous Nations, and many others on the frontlines of conserving and restoring nature.
In response, Senior Oceans Campaigner at Greenpeace USA, Arlo Hemphill, said:
“We applaud the Biden administration for its climate-focused, justice-centered plan that honors Indigenous Peoples and elevates science. This visionary report is a critical step that will help slow the loss of nature and ensure that the outdoor world is a more accessible place for all living in the United States. By protecting at least 30 percent of our ocean, President Biden can help guarantee our communities prosper, our marine habitats are preserved, and our ocean has a chance to thrive as it faces the devastating impacts of the climate crisis. Our oceans and freshwater bodies care for us in countless ways — both by providing sustenance and mitigating climate change — and establishing places for recovery ensures that they can continue to do so.
“Despite the virtues of this report as an historic effort for conservation at home, the US still lacks leadership in advancing these principles on the international stage. 30×30 is not a goal for the United States alone, but should be an ambition of all nations. A truly holistic 30×30 policy would include support for a strong new Global Ocean Treaty [1] that would enable us to extend the work we are doing at home to protect wildlife and fisheries through a network of ocean sanctuaries across international waters.”
According to scientists, protecting 30 percent of our global oceans by 2030 is the bare minimum needed to save nature and buffer against the worst impacts of climate change. Greenpeace USA urges President Biden to go one step further by recognizing 30×30 as an international goal and supporting a Global Ocean Treaty that protects marine life in all oceans.
Notes:
To read the full report from the Department of the Interior, please see here.
[1] More information on a Global Ocean Treaty and the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction is available here.
Contact:
Katie Nelson, Strategic Communications Specialist, Greenpeace USA: +1 (678) 644-1681, [email protected]
