NextGen Climate Calls on President Obama to Permanently Protect the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans from Offshore Drilling

SAN FRANCISCO—Today, NextGen Climate called on President Obama to use his executive authority to permanently protect the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans from hazardous offshore drilling. Americans across the country are already looking for ways to stand up to President-elect Donald Trump’s dangerous agenda, and in the coming weeks, NextGen Climate will call for additional action to protect our climate, create a more just society and push back against the incoming Trump Administration.

“The Trump Administration has the potential to do serious damage to our climate—but in the last few months of his presidency, President Obama can take concrete steps to secure his environmental legacy,” said NextGen Climate President Tom Steyer. “We will continue to support bold action by President Obama to fight for our families, and we will keep pushing back against Trump’s dark vision and dangerous plans for our country.”

In March 2016, the Obama Administration announced a plan that temporarily protects the Atlantic and parts of the Arctic Ocean from hazardous oil and gas offshore drilling. Now, NextGen Climate is calling on President Obama to use his authority under Section 12a of the Outer Continental Shelf Act to permanently protect both areas from future drilling. Offshore drilling is a serious threat to the climate, marine wildlife and coastal communities in the United States—to avoid these risks, we must keep these fossil fuels in the ground.

A majority of Americans voted against President-elect Trump’s vision of the future last week and, since Election Day, thousands Americans from around the country have signed up to volunteer with NextGen Climate to help block his toxic agenda. In the coming days, NextGen Climate will organize our volunteers around additional specific actions to protect our climate, our country and our families from Donald Trump.