Azul praises DOI’s plan to protect 30 percent of our lands and oceans by 2030
SAN FRANCISCO – The Department of the Interior (DOI) in coordination with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, and the Council on Environmental Quality, today recommended a ten-year America the Beautiful Campaign, detailing how the Biden-Harris Administration should implement 30×30 –the national goal to conserve at least 30 percent of U.S. lands, freshwater, and ocean areas by 2030.
The report details how the Administration can engage stakeholders throughout the country to identify locally driven, science-based solutions that help achieve its conservation goals. In response to the report, Azul’s Founder and Executive Director Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, released the following statement:
“For too long, the consequences of natural resource extraction and pollution in the United States have fallen disproportionately on low income and communities of color. As longtime advocates for a 30×30 rooted in equity, we celebrate president Biden’s effort to position environmental justice at the core of a national 30×30 approach.”
According to scientists, protecting 30 percent of U.S. lands, water and ocean is “the bare minimum” needed to save nature and buffer against the worst impacts of climate change. This effort provides a unique opportunity to work towards a more inclusive and equitable vision for nature conservation that better reflects the nation’s values.
Background: Azul has long advocated for a national 30×30 order rooted in equity, positioning environmental justice at the core for a people-oriented approach. This 30×30 initiative is innovative because it centers both.
In October 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an Executive Order aimed at protecting California’s natural resources and biodiversity. The order pledged to conserve 30 percent of the state’s land and coastal waters, historically making the Golden State the first in the nation to lead on “30×30” land and water conservation. Azul led a collaborative in advocating for and centering environmental justice and equity in this executive order to protect 30 percent of California’s land and coastal waters by 2030. California’s coastal economy is a blue engine that generates over 23 billion dollars and 400,000 jobs per year from the tourism, recreation and fishing sectors alone.