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The Maui News
Maui County Council Member Kelly Takaya King is one of only two delegates selected to attend the 26th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference on behalf of ICLEI USA, an association of local governments devoted to climate action and sustainability, her office announced Wednesday.
King will depart today for the conference held in Glasgow, Scotland.
"Maui Council Member Kelly Takaya King's experience as a woman, business leader and local elected official in an island community uniquely qualifies her to build bridges between the most vulnerable nations and U.S. leadership," said Angie Fyfe, ICLEI USA executive director.
King holds the South Maui residency seat on the council and is chairwoman of the council's Climate Action, Resilience and Environment Committee, as well as a member of ICLEI USA's board of directors. Maui County is a member of ICLEI's network of local governments and a participant in the organization's Race to Zero and Circle City Scan Pilot programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a sustainable circular economy.
"Living in Maui County is a great privilege but it is also a responsibility," King said in a news release. "Island communities like ours are home to beautiful cultures, people and ecosystems. However, we face dire challenges and risks being at the frontline of climate change's impacts such as sea level rise, extreme weather, supply chain disruptions and the degradation of unique habitats. I am honored to attend COP26 as one of the representatives from Hawaii, to give a voice to our unique challenges and to bring back global expertise to our council's CARE Committee."