The Waves of Change Blue Community program is an opportunity for cities or municipalities to declare their own work to protect the oceans and promote ocean sustainability.

The oceans are under increasing threats from pollution, overfishing, impacts of climate change including coral bleaching, ocean acidification, and increased storm intensity.  The Waves of Change Campaign is responding to these issues with ocean clean up programs, improving ocean literacy, supporting ocean champions, ecosystems restoration, and programs to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change

Unless policies for protection of the oceans and promotion of ocean sustainability are increased, coastal cities are likely to experience adverse impacts.   

The good news is that every city has the opportunity to do its part to reverse current trends.  Every city has its own unique challenges and opportunities to become a Blue City.

The process is simple and straightforward.  Each city wishing to be recognized as a Blue City is invited to present to the Waves of Change Campaign its commitment to the policies and programs that protect the oceans and promote ocean sustainability along with examples of how it is acting on this commitment.

The Blue Communtiy program has developed 12 criteia to qualify as a Blue Community with the opportunity to be certified a standard, silver, gold and platinum levels.  No matter where your community is now, the important thing is to begin the process by making a commitment to protect the oceans and promote ocean sustainability and then to begin acting on that commitment and finding ways to improve each year.

To get your city started on the path to better protecting the oceans and promoting ocean sustainability consider the 20 Possibilities for a Blue City.