At the Guam Green Growth (G3) 2nd biannual meeting in September, committee co-chairs reported several program milestones and successes, including a new project that will create a renewal energy road map for Guam. 

The G3 working group leads presented their updates and reports to Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and UOG President Dr. Thomas Krise at the virtual event. The two serve as chairs of the G3 biannual meetings. 

Austin Shelton, UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant director and G3 steering committee co-chair, said the Department of Interior Office of Insular Affairs’ Energizing Insular Communities (EIC) program selected G3 to develop an updated Guam Strategy Energy & Action Plan in partnership with the Guam Energy Office. 

“Now we will be able to lead the development of a plan to create our island’s road map to one hundred percent renewal energy by 2045 to meet the ambitious mandate of Public Law 35-46 that Governor Lou Leon Guerrero signed into law in 2019,” he said. 

Aside from the OIA-funded project, working group leads also highlighted the following G3 initiatives: 

• Community garden in Hagåtña: G3 kicked off a new partnership with Guåhan Sustainable Culture, Guam Legislature, and the Serve Guam Commission’ AmeriCorps to launch the community garden in August. The garden is now fully active and serves as a beacon of education and production to inspire local food security. 

• Village aquaculture program: G3 held an aquaculture showcase and fish fry in Adelup to share the first harvest of tilapia from the UOG Sea Grant aquaponics system. The event kicks off a new community-based aquaculture and aquaponics program in partnership with the UOG and University of Hawaii Sea Grant programs. Training started with mayors’ offices and community groups in September. 

• New recycling and waste bins: Guam’s mayors’ offices and public parks will soon receive 23 new recycling bins and 50 waste bins to support island beautification efforts. G3 partnered with the Micronesia Islands Nature Alliance (MINA) to coordinate the fabrication of the containers and Matson for shipping to Guam. i*Recycle will manage the bins to ensure local schools benefit from the aluminum and metal redemptions.  

• Reusable bag campaign: All plastic bags will be banned in January 2022. And by July 2022, local retailers will phase out paper bags in compliance with government directives. G3 is preparing to launch an educational in-store and public service campaign to get the word out in partnership with the Guam EPA.  

• Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub: The program offers local entrepreneurs, artists, and creators the tools to transform discarded lumber, plastics, metals into new marketable products. G3 partners with the National Science Foundation EPSCoR, Guam Economic Development Authority, the UOG School of Business and Public Administration, and the Guam Unique Merchandise and Art for the program.  

• G3 Conservation Corps program: In June, G3 launched the conservation corps program in partnership with UOG Global Learning and Engagement. The workforce development program prepares the community for the emerging green economy. The corps members are training full time on various sustainability topics — agriculture, aquaculture, invasive species removal, reforestation, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.  

Lt. Gov Joshua Tenorio, the steering committee co-chair, said that G3 has transformed from an initiative into a movement through the community’s support.  

“Sustainable development has been garnering more support than ever before. We are working together here on our island. We are working together with the federal government. And we are working with islands throughout the globe and with the United Nations to truly make commitments and actions,” Tenorio said.  

 WHAT IS G3?  

Guam Green Growth or G3 is the island’s most comprehensive public-private partnership created to achieve a sustainable future. Aligned with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, G3 cultivates an ecosystem for transformative action to achieve our island’s sustainable, prosperous, and equitable future. UOG facilitates the island-wide initiative in cooperation with the Office of the Governor of Guam and the 99 members of the G3 Working Group representing all sectors of our society.