Pacific RISA welcomes leaders from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau for the Inaugural Micronesian Conference of Leaders

His Excellency David W. Panuelo & First Lady Patricia Edwin pose with Vice President Raynold B. Oilouch (Palau), Minister in Assistance to the President David Paul (RMI), President Richard Vulysteke (EWC), Vice President Lyons (EWC/PIDP), and the other attendees of the Inaugural Micronesian Conference of Leaders. On October 14, CPO’s Pacific RISA team members Daniel Ervin, Zena Grecni, Victoria Keener, and Wendy Miles participated in the Micronesia Conference of Leaders convened by the East-West Center’s Pacific Islands Development Program. Dr. Keener delivered a presentation about Pacific RISA’s research and capacity-building work that supports U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands to His Excellency David W. Panuelo, President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Honorable Raynold B. Oilouch, Vice President of the Republic of Palau, and the Honorable David Paul, Minister in Assistance to the President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
 
“PIDP and the East-West Center…[work across] diverse sectors, integrating science, and assessment programs for the region on [issues like] climate change…. Furthermore, within the Pacific, Micronesia is outsized and outnumbered by our sisters…this is why I am very grateful that the leadership at the East-West Center is committed to support…the only CROP agency north of the Equator,” said Vice President Oilouch. Pacific RISA PI Victoria Keener presents at the Inaugural Micronesian Conference of Leaders, for His Excellency David W. Panuelo, President of the Federaed States of Micronensia (FSM), the Honorable Raynold B. Oilouch, Vice Presidnet of the Republic of Palau, and the Honorable David Paul, Minister in Assistance to the President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. In his remarks, President Panuelo reiterated “As I mentioned at the 50th Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu and the 74th United Nations General Assembly, climate change is an existential threat and security threat for any island nation including all of the Pacific Islands countries… [A] valuable program is the Pacific Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA), which we mentioned in the discussions today, scientists who provide climate change research and policy analysis in areas like physical modeling of groundwater resources, drought issues, and climate change-related migration data.”  A dinner in the delegations’ honor featured addresses from IndoPacific Command Admiral Philip Davidson and President Panuelo. Special guests at the dinner also included Governor David Ige and U.S. Coast Guard regional commander Rear Admiral Kevin Lunday, along with a number of U.S. agency representatives, community organization leaders, and members of the foreign consular corps.