County to Host First Youth Climate Summit May 7

Registration is now open for the County of Kaua‘i’s first ever Youth Climate Summit on Saturday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Kaua‘i Philippine Cultural Center in Līhu‘e.

The summit is free and aims to engage youth, from ages 11 to 25 years old, to share their opinions and ideas on how Kaua‘i can adapt to the impacts of climate change. The summit is being led by the county’s Office of Economic Development, in partnership with the county’s Planning Department which recently launched the planning process for the Kaua‘i Climate Adaption Plan (CAP).

“We know that the effects of climate change are real and already exist on our island,” said Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami. “While the county has become more energy efficient in recent years, we must continue to build our resiliency and plan with urgency for our future generations. Gaining our youth’s perspectives during this summit is a key part of this important planning process and we hope you all will join us that day.”

According to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), more than 27% of our island’s population is under 25 years old, a significant amount that will witness the impacts of climate change. The county is committed to incorporating this population’s perspectives, experiences, and skills as strategies are developed for the Kaua‘i CAP.

“We invite all youth to join us that morning as we hear from youth leaders about their journey towards climate action,” said OED Director Nalani Brun. “You’ll learn of local climate hazards that will impact our island and how daily activities could be affected. It will be an opportunity to talk story and collaborate with fellow youth on how we can prepare as a community.”

“We recently completed our first round of community open houses after launching the Kaua‘i Climate Adaptation Plan last month, and we received valuable feedback that will help shape our next steps in the planning process,” said Planning Director Ka‘āina Hull. “This summit is a great opportunity to engage directly with our youth and give them a voice on issues that will impact their own future.”

Breakfast will be served at the Youth Climate Summit, with opportunities to win prizes. Youth can gain up to two hours of community service for attending the event. Additional volunteer hours are available for youth interested in facilitating and preparing for the summit.

To register for the Youth Climate Summit, please click on the following link.

For additional information, to sign up as a volunteer, or to share climate-related projects at the summit, contact Ana Española at [email protected].

The Kaua‘i CAP will include an islandwide hazard, risk, and vulnerability assessment and adaptation actions for communities and infrastructure. The process shall include community engagement and education in all phases. For more information on the Kaua‘i CAP, please visit here.

If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, contact Ana Española at 808-241-1968 or [email protected].