Virtual Ocean Climate Action Hill Day is Today!

Ocean Climate Action Capitol Hill Lobby Day is here! Over 950 people are participating virtually from 30 State Delegations. The IOC is leading the Colorado delegation and our chapters and volunteers are leading delegations from Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, Texas, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Kansas, and Connecticut.

The Ocean Climate Action Plan (OCAP) coalition will promote job-generating ocean solutions to the climate crisis over two days of meetings. Our top asks include: 

  1. Investing in coastal restoration & resilience 
  2. Scaling up offshore renewable energy
  3. Reducing shipping & port emissions

We are hopeful that sound legislation will come out of this Lobby Day. If you didn't get a chance to be involved in this one there will be more opportunities in the future! Learn more here

 
 

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More than 99% of plastic is created from fossil fuelsincluding an oversupply of fracked gaswhich is spurring a boom in new plastic production, contributing significantly to the climate crisis, and causing environmental justice issues at every step of its lifecycle. If plastic production and use grow as currently planned, by 2030 greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production could reach 1.34 gigatons per year, equivalent to the emissions released by more than 295 new 500-megawatt coal-fired power plants.

More than 350 million metric tons of plastic are produced each year, of which 91 percent is not recycled. The U.S. generates the most plastic waste per capita of any country and exports 225 shipping containers of plastic waste per day to countries with limited or nonexistent waste management systems, where plastic may be crudely processed in unsafe facilities and incinerated in open areas, creating additional pollution and health problems.

The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2021 expands and improves upon an earlier version of the bill utilizing proven solutions to protect impacted communities, reform our broken recycling system, and shift the financial burden of waste management off of municipalities and taxpayers to where it belongs: the producers of plastic waste.

Stay tuned for ways to support this critical legislation!

 

New Plastic Pollution Short Film: Breathe This Air

Our friends at Peak Plastic Foundation have launched the first of their #PlasticJustice series, BREATHE THIS AIR. Its introduction accompanies the reintroduction of the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, the first national legislation ever proposed that would get to the heart of our plastic pollution crisis. The film focuses on the environmental justice aspects of the bill and features Sharon Lavigne (Rise St James), Dr. Beverly Wright (Deep South Center for Environmental Justice), Dante Swinton (Energy Justice), Prigi Arisandi (Ecoton), Sen. Jeff Merkley (OR) and Rep. Alan Lowenthal (CA).

 

President Biden Proposes Historic Budget for NOAA  

President Biden released his proposed budget for federal agencies last week, which included $6.9 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the highest number ever for the agency and 50% more than President Trump proposed. Along with other ocean and climate advocates, we are thrilled at this proposed funding increase for the agency. 

Because of its roles as a collector and provider of scientific information and data and as a fisheries and ocean resource manager and regulator, NOAA is critical in furthering climate mitigation as well as climate adaptation and resilience efforts in the US.

 
 

Upcoming Events

 

Virtual Liquid Lecture: Plastic Pollution, Colorado, and the Ocean, April 15, 6pm

Join our Community Engagement Manager Mel Jung for a discussion on the issues surrounding plastic pollution, current efforts to address the crisis, and ways you can make a difference. Beer discounts from our Brewshed partners at Atrevida Brewing! Email creekweeksoco@gmail.com to register and get meeting and beer discount codes.

Green Drinks & Organic Practices, Wyoming Chapter, April 21, 6pm-7:30pm MDT

In celebration of Earth Day, mix up your favorite green drink and join us for "Taking the Toxics Out of Parks, Playing Fields, School-yards, and Home Gardens with Organic Practices." Jay Feldman, founder and executive director of Beyond Pesticides, will guide us through the process of managing organic lawns and gardens.

 

May Blue Drinks with Break Free From PlasticMay 4, 6pm MDT

Join us for a creek cleanup hosted with Sherpani's Blue Verve Project! We'll provide all the cleanup materials. Just remember to bring water, sunscreen, clothes you don't mind getting dirty, gloves, and mask. All are invited to join.

Boulder Reservoir Beach Cleanup, Colorado Chapter, May 11, 12pm MDT

We'll meet at the parking lot on the Northwest side of the Res, off of 55th st. We'll provide cleanup materials - just bring your water bottle, sunscreen, comfy clothes, gloves, and mask. All are invited to join!

 

Rising Tide Podcast: Steve Palumbi's Strange Blue Science

From using genetics to aid coral survival to processing whale DNA to track illegal slaughter, from toxic dolphins to the wonders of Monterey Bay, ocean scientist Dr. Steve Palumbi has been a leader in applying science to ocean solutions. Join us in conversation with this widely admired Stanford scientist and popular author. As a bonus you’ll hear about an extremely interesting deep-sea octopus and her egg hatch.   

Listen here!

 
 

Inland Ocean Coalition
Boulder, Colorado 
 The Inland Ocean Coalition is a project of The Ocean Foundation, a 501(c)(3)

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