Hawaii County has been selected as one of 12 U.S. municipalities to participate in the prestigious Cities Forward program.
The U.S. Department of State spearheads this initiative and seeks to foster urban sustainability on a global scale. The program is a collaborative endeavor involving the State Department, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives.
The Cities Forward program is strategically designed to empower cities across the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean in their journey toward crafting resilient, inclusive, and sustainable futures, according to a press release from Mayor Mitch Roth’s office.
Participating municipalities are equipped to tackle pressing urban challenges head-on through project consultation, co-design, and the exchange of knowledge.
Hawaii County has been paired with Fortaleza, Brazil — “a partnership that promises to enrich local insight and leverage the wealth of global resources available through ICLEI’s international network of agencies. This collaboration ensures the creation of innovative, comprehensive sustainability solutions tailored to the unique needs of both regions,” according to the press release.
“Our administration continues to build partnerships to help ensure the sustainability of our island home, which, to us, means forging an island that allows our keiki every opportunity to live and thrive here for generations,” said Roth in the press release. “That’s why we’re thrilled to have received the honor of this partnership and look forward to collaborating with states and nations across the globe who share similar goals. A thriving community cannot be achieved alone, as a rising tide lifts all ships.
“We look forward to embarking on this journey with Fortaleza and collectively shaping a brighter, more resilient future for our communities together.”
The county and Fortaleza were selected out of a pool of 129 applications from cities across the Americas.
For more information about the Cities Forward program, please visit https://icleiusa.org/cities-forward/.