By: Ariel Orr, EAC Policy Intern
On March 9th, EAC participated in the 16th annual California Ocean Day, where our team joined with advocates from across the state to celebrate our marine environment. In addition to meeting with our representatives Assemblymember Marc Levine and State Senator Mike McGuire, EAC also attended a panel discussion regarding the “30x30” initiative with Secretary of Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot, Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez, and other leaders in the field.
“30x30” refers to an ambitious conservation goal to protect 30% of our lands and coastal waters by the year 2030. Last October, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order committing to 30x30 and directing state agencies to work towards storing carbon in California’s natural and working lands to address both climate change and ecosystem destruction. In January, President Biden also issued an executive order directing the Secretary of the Interior to submit recommendations for conserving 30% of the nation’s lands and waters by 2030. Read the press release from the Department of the Interior here.
The climate and biodiversity crises are intertwined. Climate change can exacerbate existing threats to biodiversity, such as habitat loss, introduction of invasive species, and pollution. In West Marin, the declining Western Monarch butterfly population serves as a stark example of the negative effects of climate change in our own backyards. Fortunately, many natural habitats, including wetlands and seagrass beds, can sequester carbon from the atmosphere and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Conserving thirty-percent of our lands and waters in the next 9 years is a crucial step forward in addressing climate change as well as the decimation of our most beneficial native species and habitats.
Panelists at the 30x30 Ocean Day discussion emphasized that equity and increasing public access are also key aspects of the initiative. In California, many residents live in areas that lack access to nature-based recreational opportunities - ensuring equitable access to conservation areas is necessary to inspire the environmental stewardship of future generations. Protecting our lands and waters is also necessary for maintaining economic activities that rely on natural resources, such as fishing. EAC is strongly supportive of the 30x30 goal, and we encourage our members to get involved and raise awareness within their communities.
By committing to conserving 30% of our lands and coastal waters by 2030, we can fight climate change, protect biodiversity, create sustainable economic opportunities, and ensure future Californians have access to the cherished natural resources and ecosystems that we enjoy today. View the full panel discussion here.
Ocean Day Advocacy Team with Senator Mike McGuire’s office
Ocean Day Advocacy Team with Assemblymember Mark Levine’s office
