The Opening Ceremony

“A“loha!” And so, with the heavy beat of drums, the traditional songs of yesteryear, and the happy hula of Hawaiian dancers, the Opening Ceremony of the IUCN World Conservation Congress began.

Over 9000 delegates from over 190 different nations came together today in Honolulu, Oahu, for the Congress. Held once every four years, it is the first time the United States has hosted the 10-day gathering, and there’s no better place than the Hawaiian Islands to host such a critical gathering: the islands are at the forefront of biodiversity loss and climate change.

And it’s timely too. As what’s being hailed as a meteorological first, two back-to-back hurricanes thundered towards Hawaii this week. Hurricane Madeline has already made herself known to all, roaring winds across the island and causing delays for some delegates flying in for the Congress. The hurricane could also break a second record, by being the first to strike the Big Island since bookkeeping began in 1949. A combination of warmer ocean temperatures and favourable atmospheric conditions are to blame, serving as a stark reminder of the reality of climate change and of what there could be to come.

Dignitaries arrived onto the shores of Waikiki beach by aka boats this morning, greeted by a ceremonial Hawaiian welcome and opening words from Hawai’i Governor David Ige, US Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, President of Palau Tommy Remengesau and IUCN President Zhang Xinsheng.

And at the Opening Ceremony itself, all delegates were treated to the fantastic ancient chants of the native Hawaiian people; chants which hold the history, culture and stories of the islands, forming the foundation upon which participants will deliberate the future of our environment.

A major theme at the Ceremony was the celebration of the White House’s announcement of the expansion of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Having quadrupled in size, Papahānaumokuākea is now the world’s largest marine reserve. Surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, and spanning 582,578 square miles, the expansion provides critical protections for more than 7,000 marine species, including whales, sea turtles, and the longest-living marine species in the world — black coral, which has been found to live longer than 4,500 years.

With 14.7 per cent of the Earth’s land and 10 per cent of its territorial waters now under protection, the world is on track to meet a major global conservation target, according to a new report by UN Environment and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), launched today at the Congress in Hawaii. But the 2016 Protected Planet report also shows that crucial biodiversity areas are being left out, highlighting the critical need for meaningful dialogue between scientists, conservationists, and government leaders, to move towards more effective management.

This Congress is an opportunity to highlight and discuss, with the world’s brightest minds and change-makers, the most pressing issues facing our planet –  biodiversity loss, wildlife trafficking, climate change – with the view of eliciting change and generating solutions. It is also the time to empower youth and encourage intergenerational collaboration. The imperative of caring for the earth has never been greater, and yet the challenges ahead are bigger than anything we have ever faced before.

Tomorrow (2nd September) the Forum opens, comprising of over 1300 sessions – discussion groups, workshops and presentations. Will the Congress deliver? Will significant, landmark decisions be made this week? And most importantly, will all of this lead to positive solutions for our planet Earth?

Only time will tell, but here’s to hailing a little ocean optimism. For positive thinking can indeed lead to positive change.

I’ll finish with the words of Kamana’opono Crabbe, Ph.D, CEO at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs,

“We now find ourselves at a crossroads, and at a pivotal moment in time. Our planet and its fragile ecosystems have been pushed to the limits of their existence … But let us not despair, because women, men and children with amazingly courageous hearts are taking a stand and making an incredible difference. Let us remember that what was once an oppressed voice, is now the intellectual speech of the landscape”.