Gathering of U.S. State Members and Partners

10 U.S. states participated in virtual workshop on December 18, 2020 aimed at strengthening climate action by deploying monitoring, mitigation and regional adaptation strategies.  Participants showcased and discussed actions that will be needed to assess and protect economically, socially and culturally important ecosystems and species that may be at risk from climate related ocean change.

The program included presentations from the states of Oregon, Maryland, Hawai’i, New Jersey and Connecticut who are at different stages of OA Action Planning.  We also received updates from federal partners NOAA Ocean Acidification Program and U.S. EPA Ocean and Coastal Acidification Research Program. Ocean Conservancy provided an overview of the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act of 2020.

(1) Overview of the OA Alliance, year in review and looking forward - Jessie Turner, Program Manager (2) Welcome from founding members of OA Alliance - Dr. Caren Braby (OR); Dr. Justine Kimball (CA); Martha Kongsgaard (WA) (3) Updates from Selected States (at min. 22) State of Oregon, Dr. Charlotte Regula Whitefield, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife State of Maryland, Dr. Suzanne Dorsey, Assistant Secretary Maryland Department of the Environment State of Hawaii, Amy Markel, Division of Aquatic Resources State of New Jersey, Kevin Hassell, Coastal Zone Management Program, Department of Environmental Protection State of Connecticut, Brian Thompson, Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (4) Federal Landscape and Partners (at 1:11) NOAA Ocean Acidification Program- Priorities and Expectations 2021 - Dr. Libby Jewett, Director of NOAA OAP US EPA Ocean and Coastal Acidification Research Program- Report out from OCA Program and Next Steps in 2021 - Holly Galavotti, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act of 2020 - Jeff Slyfield, Government Relations Manager, Ocean Conservancy