Guam has pledged to reach the goal of transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2045 after signing the Blue Planet Climate Agreement on Thursday.
The government of Guam and governor’s office officially made the nonbinding agreement with the nonprofit Blue Planet Alliance during the 2023 University of Guam Island Sustainability Conference held at the Hyatt Regency Guam.
The organization seeks to help jurisdictions, particularly islands in the Pacific, eliminate greenhouse gases and establish renewable energy.
“My number one mission in life is to end the use of carbon-based fuel,” said Henk Rogers, the nonprofit’s founder and video game entrepreneur who helped bring the world Tetris.
Henk Rogers, Blue Planet Alliance founder, talks about the organization’s goal to eliminate the use carbon-based fuel during an interview conducted at the University of Guam’s 2023 Conference on Island Sustainability held at the Hyatt Regency Resort Guam in Tumon on April 14, 2023.
After suffering a near-death experience from a heart attack, Rogers committed to helping establish clean energy goals for Hawaii where he was living by creating the nonprofit.
“Hawaii was the first state to have a mandate of 100% renewable energy. We followed up by changing the business model of the utilities so that they make more money by switching to renewables. Today, we have already hit our 2030 goal of 40%,” said Rogers.
This model is a template used in other states, countries and jurisdictions.
The agreement Thursday brings Guam into a larger alliance in the Pacific region with the kingdom of Tonga and the government of Tuvalu to receive the promised support of Blue Planet Alliance.
The nonprofit provides assistance by advising energy policy legislation, speaking with businesses and government agencies about alternative power sources and establishing watchdog groups to monitor progress.
Rogers said Blue Planet Alliance has an ambassador program which he hopes high schoolers and young adults in each jurisdiction will participate in to be watchdogs for climate goals.
Christine Landmeier, United Airlines operations director of environmental sustainability, talks about pathways that the airline has undertaken in its efforts to decarbonize its practices during her presentation at the University of Guam’s 2023 Conference on Island Sustainability held at the Hyatt Regency Resort Guam in Tumon on April 14, 2023.
There is also a fellowship program to bring potential leaders to Hawaii to learn how the renewable energy goals can be implemented. They also accept some fellows as interns to work for the alliance in Hawaii.
“That will give them the understanding of what we did and how we did it,” said Rogers.
During the conference, UOG President Thomas Krise signed a memorandum of understanding which officially made the university a member of the Blue Planet Alliance.
“The signing of the Blue Planet Climate Agreement between the University of Guam and Blue Planet Alliance is the start of an important partnership to fortify our island against the devastating impacts of climate change,” said Austin Shelton, director of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant.
Henk Rogers, founder of the Blue Planet Alliance, offers advice on how a positive mindset could effect the way people will look at making a difference with increased use of renewable resources.
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