US President Trump today got a free lesson in climate change from Governor Ige from the Aloha State of Hawaii. Trump, who had taken the United States out of the Paris Climate agreement. Quietly a governor located 2600 miles west of the Western US coast firmed up and sealed his State’s commitment to this global agreement in opposition to his own federal government. the former Hawaii born president Barak Obama must have felt proud today.
A global organization with tourism boards and stakeholders in more than 100 countries is the Haleiwa, Hawaii-based International Coalition of Tourism Partners( ICTP’s) Â
ICTP’s mission statement tourism  is GREEN GROWTH + QUALITY = BUSINESS.  Hawaii’s economy is dependent on a functioning and responsible tourism industry, and Governor Ige is very much aware of this. As  Hawaii-based ICTP Chairman Juergen Steinmetz often said “In Hawaii tourism is everyone’s business, regardless if you are employed in this industry or not.”
The Brussels-based President of ICTP today, who is also the co-founder of SUNx (Strong Universal Network), globally known tourism authority Professor Geoffrey Lipman congratulated the Governor of Hawaii (USA) David Ige for his great vision and statesmanship in joining the rapidly growing coalition of States; as well as cities, companies, and organizations, who are declaring their commitment to the Paris Climate Accords.
Professor Lipman said: “History will show that the Governor is on the right side of humanity. SUNx has been established precisely to help Travelism (Travel & Tourism ) communities and stakeholders respond to the harsh reality of eXistential Climate Change – increasingly volatile and extreme weather: floods: droughts: heatwaves: famines: disease and mass migration.
We are particularly mindful that Hawaii as a great world Tourism leader has stepped up to the Climate resilience plate so early and so decisively. And given that it is also the International Coalition of Tourism Partners( ICTP’s) home state we are doubly proud.”
Hawaii’s governor earlier today signed two bills into law that align with the Paris Agreement after President Trump announced last week the United States would withdraw from it.
Hawaii is the first US State to enact a law that is in step with the international climate agreement, which calls for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
According to a news release, Democratic Gov. David Ige signed Senate Bill 559, “which expands strategies and mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions statewide in alignment with the principles and goals adopted in the Paris agreement.”
This is even more relevant and more than symbolic and important for a U.S. State to commit to an agreement after the US President Donald Trump pulled the United States of America out of this agreement.
Hawaii’s governor on Tuesday signed two bills into law that align with the Paris Agreement after President Trump announced last week the United States would withdraw from it.
Hawaii is the first state to enact a law that is in step with the international climate agreement, which calls for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
According to a news release, Democratic Gov. David Ige signed Senate Bill 559, “which expands strategies and mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions statewide in alignment with the principles and goals adopted in the Paris agreement.”
