At the 17th University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability (CIS2026), leaders and representatives from across Micronesia and Hawaiʻi gathered for a Green Growth session sharing the progress, partnerships, and shared vision driving sustainability efforts across island communities. The discussion illustrated how these initiatives are advancing solutions rooted in both traditional knowledge and modern innovation.

Opening the session, Austin Shelton, Ph.D., director of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, spoke about the regional roots of the initiative, Shelton noted, “Green Growth was actually inspired by something else from our region, and that was the Micronesia Challenge,” adding that the movement has now “looped back around full circle to us in Guam.” He also described the simplicity behind its  broader mission: “Sustainability is living on our islands like we intend to stay here.”

Representing the CNMI, Angel Demapan, deputy assistant secretary for Insular and International Affairs, spoke about resilience in the wake of the recent super typhoon and the importance of regional solidarity. “Events like this remind us of a simple reality. Island communities must be prepared, must be resilient, and must be equipped to recover quickly,” he said. Demapan pointed to key priorities, including affordable and dependable energy, which he said is the “backbone of economic growth” and that “food security is national security, especially for fragile island communities like ours,” while also expressing gratitude to Guam for its continued support following typhoon impacts.