HONOLULU – Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Monday signed Senate Bill 2742 (Act 229), a measure that formally establishes an innovative public-private partnership to be known as the Pacific-Asia Institute for Resilience and Sustainability.
The institute will provide the structure and opportunity for a new generation of leaders to address Hawaii and the Pacific-Asia region’s risks from natural and manmade hazards and develop solutions for sustainable economic growth within the region’s unique physical and cultural diversity. It will focus on three core initiatives:
1. Sustainability and the environment, including issues concerning energy, water, food security, and climate change adaptation;
2. Global leadership and capacity building, including international leadership, disaster risk reduction, and public health systems; and
3. Critical community continuity, including cyber security, information assurance, security technology business and policy, and all levels of security awareness.
“Hawaii has an important role in resilience and sustainability in the Asia-Pacific region and is at the center of serious discussions, possibilities and responsibilities,” said Gov. Abercrombie. “This revolutionary and innovative public-private partnership will help to address not only the region’s challenges, but the world’s most difficult challenges.”
Using a multi-sector integration approach, the institute may facilitate its three core initiatives by establishing:
· A fellowship program for resilience and sustainability that provides a graduate-level course study for accomplished mid- and senior-level professionals from Hawaii and the Pacific-Asia region;
· An interdisciplinary executive master’s degree program to exemplify an approach that is inclusive of all of society to address the three core initiatives; and
· Innovative hubs to provide a platform for applied research and analysis, consensus building, and problem solving on a wide variety of issues as may be identified from time to time by the institute.