Our recommendations for California’s strategies to conserve 30 percent of the state’s land and coastal waters by 2030
When Governor Gavin Newsom signed Executive Order N-82-20 aimed at protecting California’s natural resources and biodiversity, he made a commitment to uphold the equity and access principles that our organization fought to include in AB 3030.
We are not only proud of this development, but we believe that by integrating equity and access values into the state’s 30×30 strategies, California has a unique opportunity to redefine conservation and set the stage for implementation across the country and the rest of the world. In fact, as a result of California’s leadership, President Biden signed Executive Order 14008 in January 2021 directing the Department of the Interior to develop guidelines to achieve 30×30 nationally. Through this executive order, President Biden has committed to “deliver environmental justice in communities all across America,” and improve access to recreation.
As California prepares to attend the 15th meeting of the United Nations Conference of the Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) as an official Observer this fall, it is imperative that the 30×30 strategies put forward by the state live up to federal and global expectations, and truly embody principles of equity and access.
To successfully achieve this, we have presented a list of recommendations for California’s strategies to conserve 30 percent of the state’s land and coastal waters by 2030 (30×30). Our recommendations seek to make sure Black, Indigenous and People of Color, who often bear the brunt of environmental degradation, not only have rights, but also a critical voice in marine conservation. California must listen to, respect, and partner with BIPOC and EJ communities as 30×30 strategies are developed and implemented. We also urge the state to prioritize equitable public access for non-extractive, non-polluting, and culturally significant uses over extractive and polluting uses within existing and new state Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that count toward the 30% goal for coastal waters.
“Now more than ever before, California has an opportunity to be a global leader and redefine conservation with equity and environmental justice at the heart of how the 30×30 goal is reached,” said Azul’s Founder and Executive Director Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš. “As stated in the California Coastal Commission’s Environmental Justice Policy, Azul believes there is no environmental justice without a healthy environment.”
Click here to download our letter to the California Natural Resources Agency