A Message from our Conference Co-Chairs

President of UOG and Governor of Guam

March 13, 2020

Hafa Adai,

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most serious public health concerns in recent history. The situation exposes the vulnerability of island societies related to geographic isolation and the inextricable link between local and global economies.

However, as island people, we remain resilient and prepared to adapt to the challenges before us. We applaud our island friends and neighbors working tirelessly to protect and care for their communities.

Sustainability is more important than ever. This global disruption is a possible forecast of what is to come with the impacts of climate change and future public health concerns. All efforts to promote social distancing and reduce large gatherings must be taken seriously. As the co-chairs of the 11th UOG Conference on Island Sustainability, we will take action to protect our participants while proceeding with determination to achieve a sustainable global future.

We are not canceling, but instead will transition our conference into a two-part series:

• We will host a virtual conference, broadcast from the University of Guam campus in Mangilao to the world. Please stay tuned for details.
• We will plan ahead for an in-person Guam Green Growth (G3) Festival in the second half of 2020 to include inspiring talks, entertainment, and an update on local implementation of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

We extend a special thank you to all the registered participants, those who submitted presentation proposals, the generous sponsors, and strategic partners for committing to sustainability. The UOG Center for Island Sustainability team will be providing details on next steps over the coming days.