University of Hawaiʻi President David Lassner joined higher education leaders from 16 countries connected by the world’s largest ocean at the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) annual president’s meeting. The meeting was held June 24–26 and hosted by the University of Auckland.
The theme of the meeting was “Oceans, The World’s Challenges Divide Us, the Ocean Currents Connect Us,” and its aim was to foster a deeper understanding and exchange of knowledge concerning the impacts of climate change on oceans, along with their implications for communities, Indigenous populations, climate justice, and food and water security. The meeting also delved into the crucial role of APRU and its members amidst these significant challenges.
“APRU members like UH Mānoa are the preeminent international research universities around the Pacific rim,” said Lassner. “We all come from different places and are connected by the Pacific Ocean, whose health is absolutely critical to ensuring a liveable planet for generations to come.”
Lassner served as a panelist on “Guardians of the Blue: Protecting Biodiversity for the Pacific Ocean” with colleagues from Ecuador, Malaysia, Taiwan and San Diego. The Pacific Ocean and the people of Oceania are at the forefront of experiencing the detrimental impacts of global climate change, a crisis that demands immediate attention. Some of the most pressing challenges to human and marine life include ocean warming, more frequent extreme weather, sea level rise and ocean acidification. The panel explored the intrinsic value of the Pacific Ocean and its biodiversity, the escalating risks it confronts due to climate change, and how universities can lead essential actions to advance ocean health and resilience.
&dquo;The situation is dire,” said Lassner. “But what gives me hope is the increasingly widespread acceptance of what we face and the willingness of universities like ours to share lessons from both indigenous wisdom and modern science to work together across and throughout the Pacific.”
Other panels at the meeting were:
- Navigating the Tides: APRU Leadership in Addressing Climate Change
- Sea, Soil, Sustenance: Pathways to Resilient Food Systems
- Advancing Climate Equity in the Asia-Pacific and Implications for Communities
