My people voyaged the Pacific for generations.
From colonization, wars, disease, and violence, everything my ancestors survived allowed me to be here today. I can feel their presence in my homeland of Guåhan, also known as Guam. In the jungle, in the oceans, in my home on the land they cultivated for generations, their energy supports me in everything I do.
However, the land that I love is at risk. As global temperatures rise, more of Guam’s beaches are consumed by sea level rise and more of Guam’s land is washed into the ocean by growing powerful storms. The military also continues to expand its presence in Guam, and that comes with all sorts of environmental risks that the people of Guam have no say in. All of the Pacific is on the frontlines of the climate crisis, and our voices need to be heard.
I first started policymaking in high school, representing my village in the Guam Youth Congress, an elected body of youth. We learned to write bills and could pass some into law if the adult legislators approved. Environmental laws were always a priority to me. Working with adult legislators, environmental organizations, and against a Republican administration, I passed a plastic bag ban into law as a youth legislator. Realizing that even while still in school I could use policy to make a difference, even while I still had so much to learn, was super exciting, so my journey in the policy space began.
After six years in the Guam Youth Congress, I faced the reality that there is only so much I can do from Guam’s level in the policy realm.
We need large sweeping action, and fast, to address the crisis that is hurting my community and my island. So, I voyaged to Washington D.C., to try to gain experience and learn how to push policies for my people. I interned in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and interned and advocated in Congress. Every opportunity reaffirmed that my path was where I wanted to be, and I was able to build a community of like minded people to support me.
That experience led me to work for The Climate Initiative. There, I create resources for the next generation to learn about how they can use policy towards climate solutions. I was able to use policy at a young age to make a difference, and I know that other young people across the country can do the same.
This policy expertise, combined with my lived experiences, are what I hope to bring on this next voyage in COP27. I want to both learn and contribute to creating climate solutions that work for everyone. Pacific Islanders and all BIPOC and frontline communities must be not only considered but heard as well. My voyages in COP27 and in D.C. are all to ensure that the land that my people have lived on for 3500 years is safe and clean for generations to come.
As a Chamoru person, growing up in Guam meant growing up on the frontlines of many pressing issues. Militarism, climate change and lack of self determination are just some of the many issues that painted Javan’s upbringing. Javan truly believes that government and policy can and should be used to the bettering of people’s lives, and the more people given the tools to participate in the policy process, the more equitable the solutions can be. That is what Javan has built his career off of. With over eight years of policy experience since before graduating high school, Javan’s career has taken him to work in Congress, the federal government, Guam’s local government and now working at the Climate Initiative, where he uses his experience as a young policy minded individual to make policy accessible to the next generation of young leaders to help solve the climate crisis.
Javan is one of Climate Generation’s Window Into COP delegates for COP27. To learn more, we encourage you to meet the full delegation and subscribe to the Window Into COP digest. You can support our delegates at COP27 with a financial gift today!