Azul Statement: Defending NOAA’s Critical Role in Protecting Our Environment, Public Safety, and Economy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: February 27, 2025
CONTACT: media@azul.org
Defending NOAA’s Critical Role in Protecting Our Environment, Public Safety, and Economy
In response to actions by the Trump administration to dismantle, privatize, or significantly diminish the critical services and functions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Azul’s Founder and Executive Director, released the following statement:
“At Azul, we recognize the critical role NOAA plays in protecting our environment, public safety, and economy. NOAA’s work is indispensable to our daily lives—whether it’s providing early warnings for severe weather, conducting important scientific research, or managing essential coastal and marine resources. The proposed cuts and dismantling of NOAA could have devastating effects on communities across the country, environmental protection, and sectors ranging from agriculture to energy and beyond. As climate-related disasters intensify, we need NOAA’s expertise more than ever. We must stand together to protect NOAA, ensuring it continues to provide the essential services that support public health, safety, and economic stability. Let’s urge Congress to oppose any actions undermining NOAA’s mission and instead work to strengthen the agency to face the challenges ahead.”
In July 2024, Azul published results from the latest National Azul Poll, a nationwide poll on Latino viewpoints on ocean protection, policies, and recreation. The poll found overwhelming support for pro-conservation policies and candidates from Latinos across the U.S., including a willingness to pay more in energy and food costs in order to advance ocean justice priorities. The findings include:
• 87% of Latino voters agree that we cannot be healthy if the environment is not healthy
• 83% of Latino voters agree that climate change is a serious problem that will affect people’s lives
• 85% of Latino voters agree that the government has a responsibility to conserve land and ocean areas for the enjoyment of present and future generations
# # #
Azul is an ocean justice organization working with Latino communities to protect our blue planet. Founded in 2011, Azul has developed –and executed– campaigns that achieved groundbreaking ocean conservation policy victories at local, national and international levels.