UOG Conference on Island Sustainability connects 57 countries together

More than 2000 participants from 57 countries, states, and territories were brought together virtually for the 12th annual University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability from April 6 to April 9, 2021. With “Islands Are Rising” as its theme, the event focused on the resilience of island communities and how they are rising to achieve a sustainable global future.  

Organized by the UOG Center for Island Sustainability, conference speakers shared examples of island leadership and innovation regarding human society, the natural environment, and the economy.  

The conference also featured special events such as a symposium to recognize the start of the United Nations (UN) Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, a series of CIS SEED Talks, and the biannual Guam Green Growth meeting.  

The conference, which gathered 527 attendees daily, has been rated favorably by its participants. Around 70% of attendees commended the quality and diversity of the conference’s speakers, who included representatives from Palau, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and other island communities. In addition, around 90% of participants said that after attending the conference, they will help their communities achieve a sustainable future and take action for the natural environment.  

“It was amazing to have all of these island communities come together to talk about how they’ve been overcoming adversity using locally-informed solutions to build a sustainable future,” said Austin Shelton, the director of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability. “I feel encouraged by the feedback from our attendees and hope they will create change in their communities.”  

Next year, the conference will take place from April 4 to 8, 2022.  

Recordings of the conference are available at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKY61AP86EXanz77isxgiqW1EYmh2WAyF.   

For updates about future events from the UOG Center for Island Sustainability, please visit https://www.uog.edu/center-for-island-sustainability/index.php.