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Financial leaders often warn there will be economic dangers if we ignore climate change.
Some world leaders are moving to achieve solutions. But U.S. leaders must move faster both to reduce emissions and to protect the natural environment.
While about 12 percent of the land around the world is now under some form of protection, less than 6 percent of the ocean is protected. There are strategic areas for conservation in the ocean that can protect against ocean acidification and climate change.
In 2005, Hawaii Rep. Ed Case introduced the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Refuge Act to protect those islands as a national marine refuge.
In 2006, President George W. Bush achieved the bill's goals by public proclamation to create Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. It is currently the world's largest protected marine area since it was expanded by President Barack Obama in 2016. Another strategic marine environment that also could be officially protected is the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, which is an even larger area.
On June 1, 2022, the Pacific Remote Islands Coalition, a Hawaii group of researchers, educators, deep-sea voyagers, native and community leaders petitioned President Biden to further expand the monument.
Gov. David Ige also has expressed full support to expand the highly protective monument that is a marine area 900 miles south of Hawaii around Howland and Baker islands, Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll.
Urge government to expand protection for the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.
Carol Cam
Lahaina