Gov. Josh Green on Monday — Earth Day 2024 — named Chip Fletcher as special adviser for climate and resilience and David Karl as chair of the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Marine Affairs.

“These appointments signify the governor’s commitment to addressing critical environmental challenges and advancing initiatives for sustainable development in the state,” according to a press release from the administration.

Fletcher is currently the interim dean of the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawaii Manoa. His expertise is in climate change, coastal community resiliency and natural coastal systems.

Fletcher, the administration says, will play “a pivotal role” in advising Green on issues related to climate adaptation.

Karl is a professor of oceanography and director of the Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education at UH. He is credited with making contributions to microbial oceanography and marine research, including the establishment of the Hawaii Ocean Time series program.

The team led by Karl will update a 50-year-old “Hawaii and the Sea — 1974” report.