The Ocean Justice Forum, a network of 18 grassroots and national nonprofit organizations from across the US, this week unveiled its new “Ocean Justice Platform.”
The platform is a consensus-based policy proposal that outlines what a just ocean future should look like for coastal communities across the country.
The platform — consensus-based federal ocean policy recommendations that promote racial, climate, environmental and economic justice — sets five priorities to guide policymakers’ approach to just and equitable ocean policy:
- “Protect the ocean and the benefits it provides for all: A healthy ocean provides communities with economic opportunities, recreation, cultural and spiritual practices, and more. Policies to protect and restore ocean health through 30×30 and other efforts must include the perspectives of ocean justice communities and provide equitable access to healthy coastlines.
- “Alleviate the disproportionate burden of pollution on ocean justice communities: Pollution from fossil fuels, agricultural runoff, plastics, and more disproportionately affect ocean justice communities. Policy makers must hold polluting industries accountable while also reducing and removing pollutants.
- “Promote an economy that sustains the ocean and communities that rely on it: A just ocean economy must prioritize people over corporations and uplift communities with family-sustaining jobs. It’s on policymakers to include communities in decision making and ensure they can support their historic and traditional ways of life
- “Uplift justly-sourced renewable energy from the ocean: The ocean has more to offer than damaging fossil fuels. It’s time to stop taxpayer support of offshore oil and gas that has harmed ocean justice communities, eliminate port emissions, and transition to justly sourced renewable energy.
- “Prioritize community social cohesion in disaster response and adaptation investments: For too long, ocean justice communities have not had adequate support from the federal government as they face rising tides and stronger storms. Policymakers must strengthen planning, provide resources to minimize expected impacts, and increase investments in emergency response to help communities recover so that they have the resources and support necessary to make their own short and long-term decisions.”
You can check out the Ocean Justice Forum’s work at https://www.oceanjusticeforum.info or watch the video below.
