The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability (UOG CIS) is proud to support an initiative that links Guam and other small island communities and nations in a partnership focused on advancing climate action and other UN Sustainable Development Goals.  

Guam, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico are part of the Local2030 Islands Network — the world’s first global, island-led initiative of its kind. Other island members and partners include the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Bonaire, Ireland, and the UN Foundation. 

As part of the network, member-nations and communities commit to promote locally driven models and concrete actions toward achieving the 17 UN SDGs. Goal 13of the UN SDGs calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.  

U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry made the announcement of support in April, during an event hosted by President Joe Biden in support of the Leaders’ Summit on Climate Change. 

“The (U.S.) Department of State, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), 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,” Kerry said.  

On Guam, UOG CIS has been at the forefront of efforts to broaden partnerships across sectors for the Local2030 Islands Network initiative. 

Austin Shelton, UOG CIS director, said the statement of support from the US government is a boost to efforts to address climate change and other sustainability goals, “Guam and other islands are at the frontlines of this effort. The statement from the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry signifies that the national government recognizes local and regional action to address climate change.” 

The Local2030 Islands Network is managed by Hawaii Green Growth Local2030 Hub and the Global Island Partnership. At the event, Hawaii Governor David Ige discussed the leadership of islands globally on energy and climate, and highlighted the Aloha+ Challenge, Hawaii’s SDG framework grounded in local values. In his remarks, Ige also encouraged island leaders and island jurisdictions to become involved in the network.  

“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,” Hawaii Governor David Ige. 

For her part, Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero supported the Hawaii Governor’s call for broadening participation in the network. Leon Guerrero said, “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.” 

A fact sheet  from the White House described U.S. government’s commitment to work with small islands in their efforts to combat the climate crisis in ways that reflect their unique cultures and development challenges by building resilience in the face of a changing climate.  

 The White House also said that the State Department, NOAA, DOE, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will launch a new partnership to advance the inclusion of locally generated climate information, knowledge, data and decision support tools in ongoing and emerging sustainability and resilience endeavors in island regions.