The U.S. Announces Support for Islands-led Global Initiative for Climate Solutions
Islands Leading the Transition Toward a Green, Resilient, and Equitable Future
U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry announced the United States’ support for the Local2030 Islands Network during a virtual event in support of the Leaders Summit on Climate Change hosted by U.S. President Biden last week.
"The (U.S.) Department of State, NOAA, and Department of Energy are supporting the Local2030 Islands Network, an innovative and peer-to-peer network that connects U.S. islands with our fellow islands around the world on local solutions and common challenges." U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry
The Local2030 Islands Network serves as a central resource for island-led solutions and links islands in new ways to address sustainability, climate change, and clean energy issues. The U.S. support of the network emphasizes the important role that U.S. islands, such as Hawai'i, Guam, and Puerto Rico, can play in surfacing solutions and working with other islands as peers. Other members and partners of the network include the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Bonaire, Ireland, Curacao, and the UN Foundation.
Event Recording: "How Ocean Based Solutions Contribute to Net-Zero"
"American islands are stepping up together, with islands like Guam and Puerto Rico joining the Network in addition to the Marshall Islands and other island economies."
Hon. David Ige,
Governor of Hawai‘i
“As a founding member of the Local2030 Islands Network and an adopter of the concept of green growth, I implore other island leaders to join this undertaking to accelerate our progress for a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future.”
Hon. Lou Leon Guerrero,
Governor of Guam
“We are members of the Local 2030 Islands Network, which is the world’s first global island-led network devoted to advancing the UN SDGs through locally-driven culturally informed solutions that build island resilience in food, water, and energy systems.”
Hon. Eamon Ryan,
Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ireland
“Islands nations are on the front line of threats from climate change and are true leaders in pioneering solutions to protect people and planet...We applaud U.S. support for this critical initiative to deepen and connect local island solutions and leverage their expertise for the benefit of us all.”
Ambassador Elizabeth Cousens,
President and CEO of the UN Foundation
"To include those in the Local2030 Islands Network, which is already working to advance community-driven energy solutions, to make the islands more resilient, we'll work with all partners, from the Caribbean to the Pacific, to craft climate action strategies that center their cultures and their own development challenges."
Hon. Jennifer Granholm,
U.S. Secretary of Energy
“The National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the LEDS Global Partnership are excited to partner with the Local 2030 Islands Network in providing support to and peer exchange across islands on pathways, policies, and technical solutions for scaling up clean energy adoption. These island clean energy transitions will drive inclusive economic growth, improve resilience to climate change, and serve as models for paths toward net zero-emission systems.”
Mr. Ron Benioff,
LEDS GP Executive Director and NREL International Program Manager
Celebrating the Micronesia Challenge
Virtual Forum
On the eve of Earth Day, this event celebrated 15 years of progress and impact towards the Micronesia Challenge commitment to effectively conserve at least 30% of near-shore marine resources and 20% of the terrestrial resources across the Micronesia region by 2020. It reflected on bright spots and lessons learned in order to create momentum for the locally-led, regionally connected Micronesia Challenge 2030 commitments spearheading the next decade of action on the global Sustainable Development Goals.
Event Recording: Celebrating the Micronesia Challenge, Virtual Forum
“We have some incredible progress led by our people to make an impact. However, the work of the challenge is not yet finished. We will continue to embed the lessons and build on our successes and brights spots as we move into the next decade of action...As a leader in SDG implementation, we are very excited to be a member of the Local2030 Island Network and take the best of what our islands are doing to the rest of the world.”
H.E. David Panuelo,
President of the Federated States of Micronesia
“Our partnership and cooperation among each other has been the hallmark of our success, and the Marshall Islands looks forward to building on that success with increased ambition and unswerving commitment to our 2030 Micronesia Challenge Goals...In the spirit of partnership, we also look forward to learning from the recent success of the Guam and Hawai‘i Green Growth Initiatives. And in that same spirit, I am pleased to announce that the RMI will be joining the Local2030 Islands Network."
H.E. David Kabua,
President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands
“The success of the Micronesia Challenge is an example of island leadership spurring global action on climate change. Established in 2006, the Micronesia Challenge was the first of its kind and inspired similar regional island commitments in the Caribbean Challenge Initiative and Hawai‘i’s very own Aloha+ Challenge. We applaud the leaders of Micronesia for their action and look forward to working together during the next decade through the Local2030 Islands Network.”
Celeste Connors,
Executive Director of the Hawai‘i Green Growth Local2030 Hub
“The support and ultimate success of the Micronesia Challenge sustained over fifteen years and across seventeen different administrations is a major accomplishment. It shows us that island partnership and conservation efforts are leading the world in implementing solutions to address our climate crisis.”
Kate Brown,
Executive Director of the Global Island Partnership
