
Dear Friends of Blue Frontier,
Despite a truly dystopian year for all of us, Blue Frontier has managed to find ways to do some extraordinary work in 2020 thanks in large measure to your support. The tragedy is that in abusing natural habitats and wildlife we provoke pandemics and the spread of viruses like COVID-19 and other diseases. By burning fossil fuels, we increase global temperatures that intensify unprecedented wildfires and hurricanes.
Clearly in saving our blue world, we are saving ourselves. Your year-end tax-deductible donation to Blue Frontier to restore ocean health and combat climate change will do even more in 2021 thanks to a generous $20,000 matching grant that will double the value and impact of every dollar you give. Here is what we’ve been able to accomplish in 2020.
OCEAN CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
In 2019 Blue Frontier partnered with the Center for the Blue Economy to launch an Ocean Climate Action Plan based on the recommendations of a broad coalition of ocean stakeholders from the private sector and government as well as engaged citizens. The plan identifies ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while helping coastal communities equitably adapt to climate change impacts.
More than 100 ocean, climate, youth and social justice leaders have signed onto the Ocean Climate Action Plan, including John Kerry, Jane Fonda, Leon Panetta, Sylvia Earle, Daniela Fernandez, Bill McKibben and Robert Bullard. Organizational and grassroots support for the plan is growing rapidly.
We are pleased that many of the plan’s recommendations have now been incorporated into an “Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act,” which was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and certain to win support from the incoming Biden administration. Our Ocean Climate Action Plan is a significant and ongoing effort to link a blue economy to a healthy ocean that will motivate lawmakers to create solution-based policies at the state and national level. Find out more at bluefront.org/blue-new-deal/
BLUE BEAT
Our blue media work inspires environmental thought leadership. In addition to writing on the ocean, climate change and natural disaster response for The New York Times, National Geographic, The Nation, The Hill, Huffington Post and others, as Executive Director of Blue Frontier I was awarded the 2020 Rachel Carson Award for environmental reporting by the Sierra Club, the nation’s largest environmental organization.
Blue Frontier also launched the Rising Tide Ocean Podcast. Episodes covered “Black Lives, Blue Water” with guest Danni Washington: “Ocean exploration and storytelling,” with guests Philippe and Ashlan Cousteau; and on-scene reporting of Jane Fonda and Ted Danson being arrested at an ocean-climate protest. Check out Rising Tide on Apple, Google or Spotify or at bluefront.org
POINT MOLATE ALLIANCE
Our vital work to protect Point Molate, a biologically rich natural headland in Richmond, California began a decade ago with the defeat of a plan to build a mega-casino on this unique SF Bay site in what is primarily a low-income working class community of color.
Today the fight for environmental and racial justice continues with a new campaign to stop the sale of this natural treasure to a southern California developer for a private waterfront luxury-housing tract. Working with community groups, scientists, commercial fishermen and others, our Point Molate Alliance project has built a broad-based resistance that is turning the tide. This includes providing a bilingual newspaper delivered to 30,000 households. The recent election of 3 new city council members who will make up a pro-park council majority will strengthen our plan to keep this public land in public hands.
THE FUTURE
In 2021 Blue Frontier aims to expand on these core programs, build the national constituency for Ocean Climate Action plus launch new initiatives such as a Writers For the Sea network and inland, youth and social justice partnerships. We will also hold a national Blue Vision Capitol Hill lobby for action around the Ocean Climate Action Plan including expanding marine protected areas (national parks in the sea) and elimination of plastic waste. Our plans include both virtual and in-person actions, as soon as it is safe to do so.
Yet all our efforts can only be realized with your support. Please mail a check to:
Blue Frontier, 301 Commodore Drive, Richmond CA 94804 or go click here and make your year-end tax-deductible contribution to Blue Frontier as we continue our vital work from sea to shining sea.
On behalf of our dedicated staff, board, volunteers and interns, thank you.
David Helvarg

Executive Director
Blue Frontier