The US Youth Advisory Council for the UN Ocean Decade, Organized and Supported by Heirs To Our Oceans, Brings Youth Voices, Priorities & Action into the UN Ocean Decade

By Chloe McKenna (California), Co-Chair, 1st and 2nd Cohort of the US YAC UNOD

After a year of learning, uplifting, and actively engaging with the UN Ocean Decade, the First Cohort of the US Youth Advisory Council for the UN Ocean Decade (US YAC UNOD) has officially wrapped December 2021! The First Cohort engaged youth across the US and Territories/occupied lands in an effort to create change for our oceans and carry out the goals of the UNOD. Over the course of our year term, we presented to the US National Committee for the UNOD’s launch of the Decade and at various conferences and schools, we attended skill-building workshops, we organized a “ US Hill Day” to take policy action, and more! Being the very first cohort of the US YAC UNOD, we worked with Heirs To Our Oceans to set the framework for future cohorts.

The goals of the First Cohort were largely centered around education, policy, and outreach which were carried out by our Presentation, Policy, and Outreach Committees. In October 2021, the Second Cohort members joined us in collaboration to achieve our goals and to transition cohorts, so that when January 2022 arrives we are well positioned to get to work establishing goals to be achieved by World Ocean Day June 2022!

By Lois Bisnar (Guam), Member, 1st Cohort Policy Committee

The Policy Committee of the US Youth Advisory Council for the UNOD successfully wrapped their November US Hill Days wherein we spoke to Congresspersons and Aides regarding policy that will protect our futures! The First Cohort members prepared and coordinated with Second Cohort members for successful meetings, and we brought friends along! Youth across the United States and Territories — US YAC UNOD members and non-members alike — sought support for three bills: the Ocean Based Climate Solutions Act, Magnuson-Stevens Act, and Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act. This experience not only exercised our minds to understand the legislative process, it also provided a space for youth to be voices for their communities!

Heirs To Our Oceans (H2OO) program opportunities such as this are made possible by the contributions of our generous community members. As this year comes to a close we hope you’ll consider supporting the H2OO community in any way you can, whether it is sharing this movement with friends and family, volunteering your time, skills and expertise, or making a tax-deductible gift contributing to continued youth education & empowerment opportunities.