President Biden Aims to Conserve 30 Percent of the Ocean by 2030
In addition to directing the Department of the Interior to pause new leases for oil and natural gas, President Biden’s executive order directs the department to outline steps to accelerate responsible development of renewable energy in public waters, including doubling energy production from offshore wind by 2030. It also directs the department to identify steps to conserve at least 30 percent each of the U.S.’s lands and waters by the year 2030. Studies show that roughly 23 percent of America’s ocean is currently strongly protected, with the vast majority of ocean protections found in the western Pacific Ocean.
Photo Credit: Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary