Our oceans make up more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, generate half of Earth’s oxygen, provide a critical source of food and a way of life for billions of people, contribute trillions of dollars to the world economy, and are home to much of this planet’s life. Indeed, the future of our planet is intricately intertwined with the fate of our oceans—and yet, at a time when climate change and biodiversity loss are increasing their vulnerability, ocean ecosystems are being threatened by unsustainable fishing practices, risky offshore drilling, and the exploitation of our vibrant marine ecosystems. We need ambitious, immediate action to protect and restore ocean ecosystems.
Rather than taking action to protect our oceans, the Trump administration has pursued a number of policies that put the health and stability of ocean ecosystems at risk. From proposing to expand offshore drilling to explicitly advocating for single-use plastics, a change in leadership is required in order to ensure the oceans remain healthy and productive.
The NRDC Action Fund conducted an assessment of the leading presidential candidates’ positions on a number of important ocean issues including offshore drilling, protecting marine areas and wildlife, reducing plastic consumption. Check it out below:
