World Conservation Congress Comes to a Close

The IUCN World Conservation Congress, the world’s largest environmental decision-making forum, came to a close September 10th in Hawai’i. Thousands of delegates and leaders from around the world were brought together to help set the global path for nature conservation.

Jack was involved in many of the Congress activities, including a Welcome Reception performance with good friend Paula Fuga. Jack spent a fun day at the IUCN Congress Student Day, singing songs to nearly 1000 middle and high schools students from around the state of Hawai’i who participated in a design thinking workshop on sustainability.

In association with the Honolulu Museum of Art Plastic Fantastic? project, Jack joined filmmaker Ian Cheney, scientists and ocean advocates as part of a panel discussion for “The Smog of the Sea” film screening, highlighting the 5 Gyres SEA Change research expedition through the Sargasso Sea. The documentary provides a new perspective on the fog of ocean microplastics and makes a call to action for rethinking single-use plastics. Erik Solheim, the newly appointed Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, was in attendance to meet Jack, a UNEP Goodwill Ambassador, and discuss the importance of taking international action to reduce plastic ocean pollution.