Hawaii and CC Navigating Change

Hawaii and CC Navigating Change

Navigating Change HAWAI‘I’S APPROACH TO ADAPTATION Report for the First Meeting of State, Local and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience December 10, 2013 Source photo Polynesian Voyaging Society Executive Summary his report describes Hawai‘i’s Vulnerability Change Adaptation Priority Guidelines into and Vantage Point law for multi-sector resilience n Hawai‘i hosts several research institutions the State of As the most geographically isolated islands and regional collaborations around climate on Earth, Hawai‘i is especially vulnerable to Hawai‘i’s unique change the impacts of climate change: T n position and perspective Freshwater. Hawai‘i is 100% dependent on rainfall for our very survival. Rainfall and Hawai‘i’s Top as a member of President stream flows are declining. Recommendations: n Coastlines. Hawai‘i’s shorelines (more An Opportunity to Strengthen Obama’s State, Local and than 750 miles) are its natural borders, but Resilience with Federal Partners they are vulnerable to beach erosion and sea Tribal Leaders Task Force 1. Provide actionable information level rise. for local decision-making and the on Climate Preparedness n Ocean Resources. Pacific Islanders island context are ocean peoples. Rising temperatures and n First Step: Support Task Force members’ and Resilience. Hawai‘i’s acidification kill the reefs, damage fisheries engagement of local stakeholders to develop and jeopardize the island way of life. specific recommendations and expedite team of state, federal, n Security. Climate change is a matter the development and delivery of priority of security for Hawai‘i. Climate change technical assistance and academic partners will disrupt and then threaten economic systems--food, water, energy, biodiversity, 2. Facilitate ongoing coordination and sought out knowledge and and health. Hawai‘i’s people will be at risk. alignment of efforts after the Task practices from a variety Force dissolves Hawai‘i shares a unique vantage point of the n Convene an International Climate Change of local and regional world as an archipelago of islands: Resilience Forum at the East-West Center n An indigenous host culture with more to coordinate domestic and international sources. In response to than 1000 years of traditional knowledge resilience efforts, especially in the Asia- and adaptation practice Pacific region. “Think Globally, Act Locally” n the Task Force’s charge to An island understanding of finite n Establish a National Climate Change resources and the need for an integrated, Network to coordinate federal efforts and advise the Administration collaborative approach—on islands, the facilitate state-to-state, local-to-local best feedback loops are direct, immediate and practice sharing in real time on how the Federal widely experienced n An Asia-Pacific regional connection Government can best 3. Support implementation for “smart to islands, states and nations with shared adaptation” Recognize islands and support resilience efforts, issues indigenous perspectives, and the unique, biocultural needs of local communities in the Navigating Change Hawai‘i’s Leadership in the order to develop site-specific and appropriate Face of Climate Change place-based information, investments, Report also proposes Hawai‘i is already a leader on climate change incentives and barrier removal initial recommendations both nationally and internationally. The Hawaiian Islands are a learning laboratory Hawai‘i’s Next Steps in the areas of actionable for scalable, innovative mitigation and Governor Abercrombie will convene a adaptation policies and techniques, and a Resilient Hawai‘i Forum in early 2014 to information, coordination, model for local and regional collaboration. engage more stakeholders, including Native n Hawai‘i was the first sub-national Hawaiian organizations, natural resource and implementation. government to sign onto the Majuro managers, the military, tourism officials, Declaration for Climate Leadership agricultural representatives, researchers and n Hawai‘i was the first state in the nation government at all levels to identify specific to adopt a barrel tax on imported petroleum recommendations. These recommendations to support clean energy will be forwarded to the Task Force and n Governor Abercrombie signed Climate County and State officials for consideration. 2 LETTER FROM GOVERNOR ABERCROMBIE ‘A‘ohe hana nui ka alu‘ia— No task is too big when done together by all. The Hawaiian Islands are the most resources, social justice and health are researchers and scholars in the world at geographically isolated lands on the all represented and clearly intersect in the University of Hawai‘i (UH) and are the planet, originally settled by some of Hawai‘i, making our islands a focal point home base for the U.S. Pacific Command. the greatest voyagers in human history. in the Pacific. As the endangered species Our collective expertise will ensure that Traditional wayfinding by voyaging capitol of the U.S. that imports 80-90% of we are prepared to address the realities of canoes demands the necessary skills to its food and energy, Hawai‘i is extremely climate change. navigate change: observation, mid-course vulnerable. Energy transformation, Mahalo nui loa to President Barack corrections and resilience. Hawai‘i’s natural resource management and food Obama for inviting Hawai‘i to participate distinctive approach is guided by these self-sufficiency are essential, not optional. on this Task Force. We are grateful for the skills and the values of exploration, Mitigation, adaptation and security are the opportunity to share our unique island innovation, collaboration and elements of survival for our islands. experiences, needs and approaches. Our indigenous knowledge to face and Given these enormous challenges, aloha spirit is a tremendous asset—we adapt to the changes on the horizon and Hawai‘i must build resilience. In know how to work together toward a com- already at our shores. September 2013, with the support of mon purpose. We serve as a model for Hawai‘i’s unique vantage point offers the U.S. Department of State’s Office communication and coordination. We are a microcosm of both diverse impacts and of Global Change, Hawai‘i became the a contributing partner that is empowered solutions. Hawai‘i joins other islands on first sub-national government to sign when we leverage Federal assistance and the front lines of climate change, exposed onto the Majuro Declaration for Climate expertise. We look forward to continue to impacts that are already hitting tropical Leadership, highlighting our state’s working closely with our federal partners islands first and most severely—including ambitious targets for clean energy and from the Department of Defense (DOD), drought, sea level rise, coastal erosion, integrated efforts for mitigation and National Oceanic and Atmospheric flooding, storm intensification, rising adaptation. I signed Hawai‘i’s Climate Administration (NOAA), Department of temperatures, climate-sensitive disease Change Adaptation Priority Guidelines State (DOS), Department of the Interior proliferation and ocean acidification. These in 2012, recognizing the importance (DOI), and others to identify and imple- impacts have a direct effect on our urban of multidisciplinary, public-private ment innovative, collaborative solutions. and rural populations, as well as our rare collaboration for implementation. Hawai‘i Addressing the complex interconnected flora and fauna. Rising seas threaten the has developed strong partnerships among challenges of climate change will call upon low-lying islands of Papaha¯naumokua¯kea multiple levels of government, universities, all of us to paddle together in the same Marine National Monument (in the non-profit organizations, businesses and direction—we are all in the same canoe. Northwest Hawaiian Islands), home to communities for an integrated, shared Building resiliency now is our moral obli- species found nowhere else in the world. kuleana1 approach to adaptation. As host gation to future generations. Most of our residential, commercial, of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation resort, and industrial development is on or Leaders’ Meeting (2011) and the Asia Imua, near the coast, and no point in the state Pacific Clean Energy Summit, Islands and is more than 30 miles from the shoreline. Isolated Communities Congress (2013), The coastline is Hawai‘i’s livelihood. The Hawai‘i has always been a gathering Governor Neil Abercrombie environment is our economy. place of cultures, sectors and institutional The transnational issues of climate resources working together to identify change and security, energy, food, creative adaptation and mitigation public safety, biodiversity, water, cultural responses. We have some of the best 1Hawaiian word for right, privilege, concern, responsibility, authority, jurisdiction 3 Hawai‘i’s Unique Vulnerability Climate Change—on the horizon Extreme Events Changing and at our shores Carbon Dioxide Concentrations Rising *Much of the following information is Surface Air Temperature Rising Rainfall Changing referenced from the Pacific Island Regional Climate Assessment (PIRCA).1 Winds and Waves Changing Climate change is already a clear and Sea Surface Temperature Rising Habitats and Species present threat in Hawai‘i. Many areas of Sea Level Rising Distributions Changing Hawai‘i are experiencing enduring drought. Ocean Heat Content Rising Seventy percent (70%) of the state’s beaches are eroding. A new University of Hawai‘i study suggests that the highest

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