Roth Attends Ocean Conference in Palau

Mayor Mitch Roth had the honor last week of representing Hawaiʻi during several pre-event functions at the Our Ocean Conference in Palau.

Roth was invited as the personal guest of Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. According to a press release from the mayor’s office, he teamed up with Hawaiʻi Green Growth to provide updates on the Aloha+ challenge and discuss the his administration’s efforts to further sustainable actions statewide.

“It was an honor to be personally invited to the Our Ocean Conference by President Whipps to showcase all of the amazing things we are doing in Hawaiʻi to combat climate change and build a sustainable island chain where our keiki can thrive and succeed for generations to come,” said Roth in the release. “We truly believe that we can be a classroom for the world when it comes to the vision and practice of sustainable actions, and creating global partnerships to ensure that happens will be paramount to our success. Fortunately, through the work of organizations like Hawaiʻi Green Growth, we were able to synthesize our approach and gain the attention of global leaders on the forefront of climate action.”

Some notable presenters who spoke alongside Roth during the pre-event festivities included Rick Spinrad, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who also is a special presidential envoy for climate; and Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero of Guam.

The seventh Our Ocean Conference was conducted April 13-14 in Koror, with pre-event receptions and meetings beginning April 12. This year’s theme was “Our Ocean, Our People, Our Prosperity,” which drew on Palau’s rich tradition as an ocean society and focused on islander perspectives and approaches to ensuring ocean health.

According to the press release, the Our Ocean conferences have catalyzed unprecedented action by the global community to fight marine pollution, acidification and unsustainable and illegal fishing and promote the blue economy and maritime security. The conferences focus on key ocean issues, including marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, marine pollution and climate-related impacts on the ocean.