THE second day of a planning meeting to execute the CNMI Green Growth Initiative took place Wednesday, March 27 at the Saipan World Resort Royal Taga Ballroom.
Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research Extension, and Education Services Interim Dean Patricia Coleman said the meeting was organized to set “deliverables and metrics” associated with the Green Growth Initiative, which Gov. Arnold I. Palacios launched in the CNMI in January. Coleman co-leads the CNMI working group responsible for enacting the Green Growth Initiative.
The initiative consists of 17 sustainable development goals aimed at addressing climate change, loss of biodiversity, and pollution.
First developed by the United Nations Environment Program, the Green Growth Initiative sets the following goals:
No poverty; zero hunger; good health and well-being; quality education; gender equality; clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure; reduced inequalities; sustainable cities and communities; responsible consumption and production; climate action; life below water; life on land; peace, justice, and strong institutions; partnerships.
“We have targets that we’re developing,” Coleman said of the work being done at the planning session. “What we’re also doing is consolidating and aligning ongoing goals and objectives and determining where the gaps are and writing goals and objectives there.”
She said the working group has an “ambitious” plan to fully launch the initiative in April, in time for Earth Day.
Participants on Wednesday identified the deliverables and “thematic areas” that the CNMI government will use to guide the islands’ efforts to follow the Green Growth Initiative.
Participating in the planning session were representatives from 500 Sails, Tan Holdings, the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, the Division of Agriculture, the Department of Corrections, the CNMI Legislature, the Office of Planning Development, the Kagman Farmers Association, the Northern Islands Mayor’s Office, NMC Tinian and Rota, the CNMI Public School System, the Marianas Islands Nature Alliance, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Marianas Alliance of Non-Government Organizations, the Indigenous Affairs Office, the Carolinian Affairs Office, the Department of Public Works, Nature Conservancy, Sea Grant and the UOG Center for Island Sustainability.