CIS2025 MONDAY: Collaborative, innovative solutions at Conference on Island Sustainability
Over 90 speakers from around the globe will gather this week for the 16th University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability to explore practical solutions to sustainability challenges.
During a press conference on Monday, April 7, at the Hyatt Regency Guam, university leaders and partners discussed the shift towards a solution-oriented theme that emphasizes multi-sector collaboration and innovation.
This year’s conference, themed “Solutions for Our Future,” will take place from April 7-12, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Guam.
UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez, DBA, highlighted the university’s role in generating knowledge and developing practical solutions for island sustainability.
She said, “We are a hub for research, education, and innovation. This conference will showcase our capabilities, and we aim to facilitate collaborations that lead to projects and policy recommendations that can be implemented across the region.”
She stressed the urgency of taking a proactive approach to secure a sustainable future for both the island and the wider Pacific region.
For Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, who co-chairs the conference with Borja Enriquez, this year’s conference presents an opportunity for consolidating past conference discussions.
“Sixteen years is a great advancement in what we are doing today. We’ll talk about solutions: how do we drive abstract ideas, academic ideas, and research into solutions? We need to think what that method should be,” said Leon Guerrero.
Austin Shelton, PhD, director of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, pointed out that in past years, the focus has largely been on understanding the science behind sustainability challenges. However, this year, the university is fast-forwarding to focus on solutions for our future.
Shelton noted that featured speakers this year include incubators addressing business solutions to current challenges faced by islands, such as seeking funding support beyond grants and government assistance. There will also be discussions on leveraging indigenous solutions and creating tech industries tailored for the islands.
“As we’ve discussed in previous conferences, sustainability encompasses everything. It’s interdisciplinary, connecting aspects of human society, the economy, and the environment. There’s an intersection where everyone has a role to play, including our business communities,” Shelton added.
For Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio, who co-chairs the G3 Steering Committee with Shelton, some of the best innovations are happening in the small islands. “This is the baseline for us to figure out how we can empower ourselves, learn from others and really chart a course for, not just reviving, but thriving,” he said.
Building on the theme of collaboration, Maria Eugenia Leon Guerrero, chairperson of the Island Sustainability Community Advisory Board, remarked, “I think we can all agree that collaboration between government, the private sector, nonprofit organizations, and academia is essential to create practical and impactful solutions to our sustainability challenges.”
In line with the conference theme, presentations, workshops, and discussions will cover topics aligned with the Guam Green Growth’s five categories of action for sustainability on islands:
- Healthy and Prosperous Communities
- ·Educated, Capable, and Compassionate Islands
- ·Sustainable Homes, Utilities, and Transportation
- ·Thriving Natural Resources
- ·Sustainable Alliances
The UOG Conference on Island Sustainability is an annual event that brings together island leaders, scientists, policymakers, and community members to discuss and collaborate on solutions to the unique sustainability challenges facing island communities.
The first day of CIS2025 included pre-conference events including the Guam Power Authority’s POWER Symposium, the Guam NASA EPSCoR Research Summit and an Educator’s