The Marianas shared the world stage in Palau at the 7th Our Ocean conference. And numerous voices from across the Marianas are shaking things up in the global conversation. The ocean took center stage at the conference, bringing world leaders, advocates, and community members to the same table.

"For Palau and for island states around the world, the health of our ocean is not only about conservation for our future, it is about survival today," announced United States Presideny Joe Biden in a video message. Biden made a commitment to the urgent calls for action to address climate change. Former secretary of State John Kerry, now the climate envoy, attended in person and echoed the administration's commitments.

"We are moving to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind and energy by 2030. We are working together with other countries to implement green cars to get international shipping centers to 0 emissions by 2050," the president pledged. "We are conserving at least 30% of U..S. Waters by 2030."

That timeline comes at the most urgent time when the United Nations says recent data show that there is a "Code Red for humanity."

Voices from the Marianas also took center stage. Saipan lawmaker Rep. Sheila Babauta, who recently introduced former President Obama at the U.N. Climate Conference, shared her call to action on an Indigenous-led panel. "I would like to offer a different approach to engaging with traditional communities and with Indigenous populations. Instead of making announcements, come to the table, sit down, preferably outside near the ocean. That is where we make our best decisions. And listen. Listen to the Indigenous community. Listen to their struggles. Listen to their successes. Listen with respect and compassion and curiosity. There is so much we can learn from Indigenous communities and Indigenous leaders," she said.

Babauta was also referencing the recent scaled back plans by the Department of Defense that no longer uses Pagan and eases training on Tinian in their proposal. However, she says the community has yet to see the full picture and can't fully engage with those plans just yet.

"In my community," noted Babauta, "many families are focused on stabilizing the home, let alone thinking about militarization and climate change.We are just trying to feed our family."

It was an intergenerational conversation with Marianas podcaster and advocate Kalani Reyes advocating for more youth engagement. "Palau has raised the bar and we urge future Our Ocean Conference organizers to continue an improve upon this tradition of youth inclusion," she said.