In September, I got a question at a CNN climate crisis town hall from Bren Smith, an ocean farmer from Connecticut. He asked if I’d support a Blue New Deal to restore our oceans, in addition to fighting climate change on land. I said I would, and I meant it.

The world’s oceans are in crisis — our oceans are warming, many of the world’s fish stocks are fully exploited or overfished, our coasts are flooding and eroding, and pollution from land is causing dead zones in our waterways and Great Lakes.

Our safety, public health, food security, and infrastructure are at risk. If we do not act now, things will only get worse, as climate change leads to more severe weather.

I believe that a Blue New Deal must be an essential part of any Green New Deal — helping us fight climate change, protecting our health, and creating good, high-wage union jobs in the process. That’s why today I’m releasing a new plan — A Blue New Deal For Our Oceans.

It’s time to take bold action on climate change. Add your name if you support rebuilding our Blue Economy, protecting and restoring ocean habitats, and adapting in a climate-changed world.

Here’s how it works.

→ First, we start by rebuilding our Blue Economy. Oceans already support millions of jobs and our food system, contributing $304 billion to our national GDP. They also have the potential to be one of our strongest tools in the fight against climate change — if we harness the potential of the Blue Economy.

As we rapidly transition our economy to 100% clean energy, we must prioritize offshore wind and wave energy. As president, I will work to streamline permitting for offshore renewable energy based on environmental impact assessments and making sure that the communities hosting new developments receive a share of the benefits.

Threats like warming oceans and overfishing have caused the ocean’s fish population to fall by 50% over the last 50 years, leading to serious consequences. So we need to rebuild and sustainably manage our fisheries — supporting up to an additional 500,000 jobs along the way. And my administration will better prepare fishing industries and communities for the impacts of climate change.

→ Next, we’re going to do more to protect and restore our coast and marine habitats. That starts with fully funding NOAA’s Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program to conserve coastal ecosystems. I’ve also proposed a 21st Century Civilian Conservation Corps, which will hire 10,000 young people and veterans for new job opportunities caring for our natural resources — including restoration of marine ecosystems.

We’ll expand marine protected areas. And we’ll build a domestic blue carbon program to help make sure the ocean can continue to naturally store carbon, which helps fight against climate change.

Plus, we’ll phase out all offshore drilling. It’s dangerous for coastal communities, it contributes to climate change, and it needs to come to an end. I am also committed to leaving no worker behind as we transition to 100% clean energy. The men and women who’ve worked in the offshore drilling industry will get job training and guaranteed wage and benefit parity if they want to work in new industries, and full financial security if they want to retire.

We’ll also reduce ocean trash, hold Big Ag accountable for upstream pollution, and work to build climate smart ports. Finally, I will work with Congress to ratify the Law of the Sea treaty to ensure that we are working with our international partners to collectively manage our oceans.

→ Finally, we’re going to adapt to a changing climate. As our ocean continues to expand and rise as a result of climate change, we must mitigate the damage that has already been done and prepare for what will only get worse — sea level rise, storm surges, and extreme weather events. We’ll propose quintupling disaster mitigation funding and direct all federal emergency management and coastal management agencies to take a holistic approach to helping communities shelter from increasingly unnatural disasters.

While pre-disaster mitigation is crucial, we’ll also have a rigorous post-disaster mitigation plan in place to ensure our most vulnerable populations get the help they need to rebuild their lives after disaster strikes. We’ll take climate change into account to reform flood insurance and improve how we manage drought. And we’ll fight to fully-fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative — so we can defend the drinking water that 1 in 10 Americans depend on.

Starting on day one of my presidency, I will take bold action to fight climate change — and that includes harnessing the power of our oceans to be a key part of our solution to the climate crisis. The task before us is significant, but I’m confident that we can meet this challenge together.

The future of our planet depends on a healthy ocean — and we have no more time to waste. Please add your name if you support my plan for a Blue New Deal For Our Oceans.

Thanks for being a part of this,

Elizabeth