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A new US federal assessment of climate change shows that the economic, social and environmental effects on the Pacific Islands affiliated with the United States could be catastrophic.
An off-season storm hit the Marshall Islands in July 2015.
Photo: Journal of the Marshall Islands
The National Climate Assessment, the result of four years of collaboration from about 300 US academics and experts in the field, is the most comprehensive and comprehensive report on the effects of climate change across the United States. .
In the Pacific, it lists key concerns such as the shortage of freshwater, damaged and compromised coastal infrastructure, the destruction of coral reefs and increased pressure on biodiversity and native species.
The report says that in economic terms, the impacts in the Pacific could amount to billions of dollars.
But he also said that swift action to address these impacts can reduce economic, environmental, social and cultural costs and help prevent conflict or the displacement of land and resources.
The chapter of the National Climate Assessment in Hawaii and other islands in the Pacific Islands and related territories outlines the changes already experienced, as well as future perspectives.
North Shore, O'ahu in Hawaii during the floods of winter 2016.
Photo: Steven Businger.
The key findings are: Reliable and safe sources of water are threatened by rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, rising sea levels, and increased risk of extreme drought and floods. The islands are already experiencing seawater contamination due to sea level rise, which is expected to have a catastrophic impact on food and water security, especially on low-lying atolls.
Sea level rise has accelerated and is now damaging critical infrastructure such as transport and housing, as well as beaches, ecosystems and cultural sites.
In Hawaii, the value of all the structures and all the land that should be flooded by the year 2100 amounts to more than 19 billion US dollars at the state level.
The Pacific Islands will experience a rise in sea level above the world average, which is expected to accelerate sharply after mid-century. The adaptation strategies implemented earlier can better prepare communities and infrastructure.
The increase in ocean temperature and acidification threaten the fisheries, coral reefs and livelihoods they enjoy.
The widespread bleaching and death of coral reefs is more common and is expected to occur annually in the middle of the century, particularly if current trends in greenhouse gas emissions continue.
Bleaching and acidification will result in loss of reefs, lower fishing yields and loss of protection of the coastline and its habitat.
Floods on the island of Kaua'i, Hawaii, have repercussions on the cultural practice of the cultivation of pa 'akai (salt).
Photo: Malia Nobrega-Olivera
These changes put at risk the health and well-being of Aboriginal peoples and their relationship to lands, territories and cultural resources.
Climate change reduces the ability of habitats to support protected plant and animal species.
The changes promote the spread of invasive species, threatening biodiversity, important for islanders and source of economic income. Some species are expected to disappear and others to decline to require costly protection.
Faced with such risks, groups in the region are working together to reduce the damage caused by global warming and the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change.
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