To better serve as stewards of the nation's ocean and coastal resources, NOAA was the first federal agency in the United States Government to establish an office dedicated to Sustainable Development.

Created in 1993 by NOAA Administrator Dr. D. James Baker, the Office of Sustainable Development and Intergovernmental Affairs works within NOAA and with partners inside and outside of the federal government to promote sustainable development solutions to advance NOAA's Strategic Goals, environmental stewardship and environmental assessment and prediction.

Most directly, NOAA is dedicated to Building Sustainable Fisheries and Sustaining Healthy Coasts. Coastal communities are among the fastest growing and most ecologically rich regions in our country. In coastal areas, the need for development is pressing and the stakes of getting that development right are high. The NOAA Office of Sustainable Development and Intergovernmental Affairs is dedicated to meeting this challenge by helping to find solutions that bring balance between economic vitality, social equity and environmental integrity.

Functions of the office include:

• Supporting the Secretary of Commerce and the Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (the Administrator of NOAA) in their roles as members of the President's Council on Sustainable Development.
• Advising the Secretary on Commerce and the Under Secretary/Administrator on policies to encourage positive relationship between economic growth and environmental protection.
• Offering organizational and technical assistance to collaborative pilot community and academic projects that promote sustainable development.