Gov. David Ige (D) participated in several events at the COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.
The conference included a panel discussion called "Role of States and Regions in the Climate Decade" with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) and a press conference entitled "U.S. Governors United on Climate Action and a Net-Zero Future" with Brown, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D).
"We did see one of the silver linings of this pandemic, as all business and organizations found ways to work from home. We saw how rapidly our air cleared and oceans restored vibrant coral communities. And we do know that if we give nature an opportunity, it will help us more than we ever realized,” Ige said, according to the Office of the Governor.
Ige outlined what Hawaii has done so far and initiatives he hopes to implement in the future. His plans include preparing for electric planes for inter-island flights, requiring state employees to rent electric vehicles and planting 100 million trees across the state by 2030.
Ige also participated in a U.S. Department of Energy panel discussion with Department of Education Deputy Secretary David Turk.