The planetary emergence of ecological and societal threats, ranging from wildfires to the industrial byproducts powering our energy transitions, has accelerated at unprecedented rates. Amid the looming specter of worst-case climate scenarios, a pressing need exists for a transformative approach that transcends green neoliberalism to strive for genuine climate justice. This paper explores potential pathways for such transformative design interventions, focusing on the Gulf of Mexico’s marine infrastructure. The Gulf of Mexico, characterized by its vast marine network, stands as a testament to age-old patterns of extraction and racialization that underpin our current epoch. As a reminder of past exploitative practices and a possible start for a new way of thinking, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) shows how design can evolve and lead to change. While addressing immediate industrial needs, practices such as dredging carry long-term implications ranging from reshaping thriving marine ecosystems to altering coastal dynamics. This paper aims to look into how complicated these practices are and how design and architecture can lessen the destructive effects of these interventions and help with a larger climate justice strategy. It will stress the need for new, fair, and long-lasting ways to deal with the environmental and social problems in the Gulf of Mexico and beyond.