U.S. State Working Group on ocean acidification

Sustaining Momentum on ocean acidification in the united states

The U.S. State Working Group has been formed to advance U.S. leadership on climate-ocean change efforts in 2025 and continue advancing ocean and coastal information that helps governments make better decisions about mitigation, adaptation, and resilience goals.

The U.S. State Working Group will carry forward key themes of interest to states related to:

  • Exploring OA’s Role in Climate Change Communication

  • Measuring Coastal Acidification as Part of Water Quality Management

  • Evaluating and Funding Blue Carbon Habitats

  • Developing Risk and Vulnerability Assessments That Account for Climate-Ocean Change

  • Engaging in the Federal Policy Landscape

  • Engaging in the International Policy Landscape 

Working Group members are offered benefits and engagement pathways such as:

  • States learning from and engaging with each other, regionally and nationally, across thematic areas (linking up with a “Sister State”)

  • Topical trainings and resources for states to utilize in their state policy and communications work.

  • Federal landscape assessments and engagement with partner groups like NGOs or state collaboratives that are working on climate-ocean and coastal policy and communications efforts in the U.S.

  • Opportunities to participate in global activities like the UN Decade of Ocean Science, UN Ocean Conference and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

  • Access to State-Led Team on the OA Information Exchange. 

Invited state representation from: California, Washington, Oregon, New York, Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Alaska and Hawaii. (States that have OA Action Plans or are engaged in related activities). 

Non-state representation from: National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, Ocean Defense Initiative, Aquarium Conservation Partnership, U.S. Climate Alliance, Pew Charitable Trusts, Environmental Council of States, Environmental and Energy Study Institute. 

Science body representation from: U.S. Coastal Acidification Networks in each region.

The Third United Nations Ocean Conference  (UNOC3) represented a vital moment for ocean health and policy action. 

From broadening political leadership and defining OA science for action to engaging through creativity, the OA Alliance hosted a diverse range of official side events that showcased our concrete initiatives that are actively addressing ocean acidification at the global scale.

messages for U.S. Working Group Members

Some of our U.S. colleagues who attended UNOC took time out of the hectic conference schedule to offer their perspectives, speaking directly to you as members of the U.S. State Working Group.

Tony McDonald, Director of The Urban Coast Institute at Monmouth University; member of the U.S. National Committee for the UN Decade of Ocean Science

“I think it’s steady as she goes. The reality is that there is a lot of change in the air, but the problems don’t change, the work that needs to be done doesn’t change. I don’t think it’s really difficult to realize the work we do in the U.S. and how we partner already. The ocean is a place that needs international cooperation to work, it needs international partnership. The U.S. still has a lot of best management practices to share, and to learn from each other [at UNOC].

I don’t think there is a challenge over time to align the work we do with the current priorities for prosperity and security. Those things are consistent in my mind, even if there are other  geopolitical issues that are not specific to the ocean.”

Ryan Calkins, Commissioner at the Port of Seattle

“Ports often have the opportunity to bring together stakeholders that other groups may find difficult to convene… stakeholders that are essential to addressing some of these big systemic problems for our ocean.

One of the most important lessons that I have taken away from this conference is that the only way we are going to solve this big problem is if we get community groups, public groups, and private groups all working together. It really does take all of us to solve these issues.

I have been really encouraged by the general sense of optimism at this conference... We know our partners abroad are going to continue working over these next 3.5 years so that when we do have the opportunity at the federal level to take this up again, the work that we’re doing at local and state level in the meantime will really have an international audience that we can work with. We are a federalized country. Our city and state partners can continue to do great work.”

Sarah Guy, Executive Director of Ocean Defense Initiative

“It is critical for U.S. ocean advocates to stay connected and keep building momentum. As the trump administration cedes global leadership on these issues, it’s not enough just to play defense. We need to keep working toward the future that our ocean and climate communities need.

Right now, listening and learning from international efforts and locally-led solutions that are moving the needle on ocean-climate action has been a much-needed shot of encouragement. It is also great to connect with so many other ocean advocates and leaders from around the world [at UNOC] and to know we’re all in this together.”

Meeting #1: February 20, 2025

MEETING RESOURCES

PRESENTATION RESOURCES

  • Alli Gold Roberts

    Policy Director, U.S. Climate Alliance

    AGoldRoberts@usclimatealliance.org

  • Dr. Cassaundra Rose

    Natural and Working Lands Policy Advisor, U.S. Climate Alliance

    CRose@usclimatealliance.org

  • Anna McGinn

    Policy Director, Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI)

    amcginn@eesi.org

  • Dr. Basia Marcks

    Program Director, Ocean Defense Initiative (ODI)

    basia@oceandefenseinitiative.org

Immediate Past Board President, National Caucus of Environmental Legislators

Former Minority Leader, AK State House of Representatives

Former White House Director National Ocean Council, CEQ, OSTP

Contact Beth

Connect via LinkedIn

Meeting #2: March 27, 2025

GUEST SPEAKER: BETH KERTTULA

U.S. Ocean and Coastal Management and Policy Team

Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2025 info and recordings

Meeting #3: May 15, 2025