G3 committee reports alliance expansion, Sustainable September plans in August meeting

At the August Guam Green Growth (G3) steering committee meeting, members focused on strengthening alliances through various local and regional platforms, from the island’s participation in the Pacific Island Forum to the expansion of Green Growth programs across Micronesia.  

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, and Guam Green Growth also announced plans to organize events for Sustainable September at the meeting held at the Governor’s complex in Adelup.  

Under the leadership of UOG and the Governor’s Office, G3 working groups shared local initiatives under different action categories contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These achievements are integrated into the G3 action framework dashboard to monitor island-wide progress 

Austin Shelton, Ph.D., director of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, provided an update on the Green Growth movement across the Micronesian Region. He mentioned that after assisting Palau and CNMI in launching their own Green Growth initiatives, the next targets are the Marshall Islands and the FSM.  

According to Shelton, who chairs the G3 steering committee, these future Green Growth partners plan to use the G3 action framework dashboard as a model for their own tracking systems.  

The reports included the following highlights:  

• Educated, Capable, and Compassionate Island:Guam Power Authority and the Guam Department of Education are collaborating to implement solar power for schools. Additionally, UOG has secured additional funding through an endowment to support capital infrastructure growth. Furthermore, Guam Community College’s YouthBuild Grant is expanding apprenticeship programs and the island’s workforce.  

• Sustainable Homes, Utilities, and Transportation:The Guam Energy Office reported the launch of the Guam 100 Advisory group tasked with developing strategies to deliver 100% renewable energy by 2045.  

• Thriving Natural Resources:Fran Castro, the associate director for operations and development at UOG Sea Grant, provided an update on an MOU between UOG Sea Grant and the Guam Department of Agriculture. The collaboration aims to gather feedback and input on a fishery management plan through outreach efforts. 

Meanwhile, Lt. Governor Joshua Tenorio, who co-chairs the G3 steering committee with Shelton, reported on the success of including an agenda item in the last Pacific Islands Forum for Guam’s bid for associate membership in the organization. “The Micronesian governments that are working with us all played a key role in pushing that agenda item,” Tenorio said. 

Carlotta Leon Guerrero, the chief advisor to the governor on military and regional affairs, also discussed the governor’s upcoming leadership of the Micronesian Islands Forum next year, which served to bolster partnerships in the region. Leon Guerrero reported the updates on behalf of the sustainable alliances group.