By Pacific Island Times News Staff
The Port Authority of Guam’s board of directors has formally adopted the Zero-Emission and Zero-Waste, or ZEZW, Resiliency and Sustainability Goals to reduce the agency’s carbon footprint, enhance climate resilience and drive innovation in sustainable operations.
According to port officials, the ZEZW strategy, developed by Jacobs and WSP USA Inc. for the port authority, is supported by a $2.41 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Ports Program.
“Our adoption of the ZEZW goals reflects our unwavering dedication to advancing sustainability as a core pillar of the Port’s future,” Rory J. Respicio, the port’s general manager, said following the board’s adoption of Resolution 2024-18 on Nov. 30.
The ZEZW integrates the program’s objectives into the sustainability framework of the 2023 Master Plan.
“This initiative is more than an environmental commitment—it’s a promise to our island community to prioritize long-term resilience and efficiency while aligning with regional and global sustainability strategies. We are building a legacy for the generations to come,” Respicio said.
Officials said the resolution underscores the port’s strategic priorities, including conducting a comprehensive mobile emissions inventory, updating the Net Zero Emissions Strategy, and developing a workforce equipped to embrace sustainable practices.
The resolution states, “The port is dedicated to fostering a culture of environmental responsibility through community engagement, reinforcing a shared vision for a cleaner and more sustainable Guam.”
Respicio credited Conchita S.N. Taitano, the board’s vice chair, for bringing “decades of expertise in environmental policy.”
The EPA Clean Ports Program funding will also support key initiatives such as preparing a climate resiliency strategy and creating actionable plans for decarbonizing and electrifying port operations.
As the resolution emphasizes, “These efforts align with the 2023 Master Plan’s sustainability component and the ‘Look Ahead 2024’ framework, ensuring that the Port remains a model of innovation and environmental stewardship.”
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