Entities will need to be on the charm offensive. Now more than ever, federal agencies and funding recipients—public and private—will need to communicate and frame their goals to appeal to the general public and not just to the subject matter experts. Those who can rise to the challenge with efficient and clear solutions will lead the pack. Supported research will need to be less discovery and more problem-focused, startups will need to present ever clearer pathways to market, and government agencies will need to improve their return on investment.
Conservation & Climate Policy
While the next administration sets sights on addressing the pressing challenges of offshore energy, maritime defense and security, and climate interventions such as marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR), day-to-day policy matters continue to mount. Since mid-December 2024, new legislation has hit desks, many of which garnered bipartisan support. The CHARTS Act of 2024 was introduced to protect baleen and sperm whales by improving our understanding of whale feeding areas, calving grounds, and migration routes; The ReSCUE Oceans Act would help establish the United States as a leader in the emerging mCDR field by investing in research, creating environmental and community safeguards, and strengthening coordination; President Biden announced plans to protect the entire US East coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, and additional portions of the Northern Bering Sea in Alaska from future oil and natural gas leasing.
Diversifying the Energy Mix
The groundwork and investment have been made to diversify the energy mix, and the likelihood of that being abandoned is slim. The development of the offshore renewable sector has already proven to benefit many mainstay service and supply chain providers traditionally focused on serving offshore oil and gas. Made up of a workforce with translatable skills and experience as well as dual-purpose tools and technology, the offshore energy sector is already poised for success. Policy to improve the development process and project approvals have continued to come down the funnel.
Spaces we’re watching: The Energy Transition, Ocean Policy, PFAS
You’ll find news and insights on all the above in the “water column”—exclusive editorial dedicated to giving our readers an alternate, bird’s eye view of the most significant happenings across the marine science, industry, and policy space. To keep abreast of all the latest developments, access the water column in print editions of eco magazine, nestled among the pages of Environmental Policy news, and in a monthly circulating digital edition found on LinkedIn and our website.
