Research and Assessment


Conducting socioeconomic assessment, Milne Bay, PNG. Source: Michael Guilbeaux. Socioeconomic monitoring of coastal communities help identify ways coastal and marine resources are used and managed, as well as perceived climate-related threats.

Pacific Community Climate Needs Assessment: Climate programs in the Pacific have used interaction and dialogue with the Pacific community to identify education, research and assessment, and decision support needs.  Using participatory learning and action methods that emphasize stakeholder engagement in developing risk management strategies, the Pacific RISA conducted six workshops in the U.S. Pacific Islands in 2005 and 2006 (see Stakeholder Dialogue). The following needs were identified:

Education, Outreach, and Communication

Climate Assessments

Research and Operational Products 

Observation and Monitoring Systems


Based on this information, the Pacific RISA has focused on developing project that primarily address the needs expressed in the first three areas.  The information has been shared with partners, who have targeted projects, especially in the area of decision support tools.

Integrating Climate in Disaster Risk Reduction: The Pacific RISA facilitated the integration of climate risk analysis and adaptation into disaster management plans by engaging the disaster management community as a primary stakeholder in climate activities. The practice of discussing climate through impact analysis of extreme climate events developed a foundation for considering changes in climate.  Researchers, meteorologists, and climatologists built on experiences with tropical storms, hurricanes, and typhoons to plan for the impacts of climate variability and ENSO cycles. 

Because of the established relationships with the disaster management community in the Pacific, climate has been embedded in formal multi-hazard mitigation plans required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for provision of post-disaster recovery and pre-disaster mitigation funding. For the State of Hawaii, the plan describes the types of hazards associated with climate variability and change, attempts to evaluate risks from climate-related impacts (more data and research is needed in this area), describes institutions and organizations that contribute to risk reduction, and recommends mitigation actions. Rainfall forecast information developed by PEAC is used to show precipitation trends related to ENSO events. In a document adopted by the Governor of the State of Hawaii and approved by FEMA, the Pacific RISA is one of the institutions specifically mentioned in the plan for risk assessment and reduction through climate risk assessment and adaptation (State of Hawaii, Chapter 6, Section 6.5.1). 


Linking Local and Indigenous Knowledge with Climate Risk Reduction: Pacific RISA, with the participation of Dr. Cheryl Anderson, has engaged in a cross-RISA collaboration on the integration of climate and traditional ecological knowledge. One goal is to build connections among indigenous and local stakeholders in the Pacific, Alaska, and the U.S. Southwest to address drought hazards and climate change impacts in vulnerable environments, including coastal areas. The project is designed to use advances in telecommunications technologies, such as videoteleconferencing and shareware programs to enable dialogue about climate risks. The initial focus of the project will be on water availability and the implications in different locations. 

The three RISA programs have pursued opportunities to link the project with national efforts and partners to incorporate indigenous knowledge in climate policy, especially with respect to the American Indian and Alaskan Native Climate Change Working Group.

Planning for Seven Generations:  Indigenous & Scientific Approaches to Climate Change

Tribal College Forum VII (A joint conference between the American Indian and Alaska Native Climate Change Working Group and Native View Inc):  Climate Crises and Water Nations are Calling for Awakening


Pacific RISA program evaluation: The Pacific RISA received a preliminary evaluation report conducted by Dr. Susanne Moser (NCAR) that assessed and described selected features of the first three years of existence of the Pacific RISA.  In particular, this assessment focused on the past and possible future roles of the Pacific RISA within the network of various Hawaiian and Pacific Island climate service organizations. Recommendations of the report are being used to guide aspects of the development of the Pacific RISA.  For instance, the Pacific RISA continues to broker information and facilitate stakeholder engagement by favoring interpersonal modes of interaction (e.g., face-to-face meetings) and “localizing” information and communication processes, as appropriate, across and within groups of islands. The Pacific RISA is developing an integrated evaluation system to assess the effectiveness of the stakeholder engagement process.

 

Climate-related socioeconomic assessment pilot project: Dr. Supin Wongbusarakum begins a project in American Samoa in September 2008 to assess climate-related socioeconomic impacts. The work will generate information useful for long-term monitoring and enhance community resilience and adaptation capacity. By sharing the lessons learned from the project, the work will also contribute to efforts elsewhere in the Pacific to develop effective climate adaptation, risk management, disaster preparedness, and resource management and conservation aimed at sustainable islands development.

 

Climate and agriculture: Dr. Melissa Finucane is working with a multidisciplinary team (including agronomists, meteorologists, geographers, computer scientists) to develop a web-based decision-support tool that helps farmers use climate data in agricultural decision processes. The initial aim is to transfer technology from the U.S. Southeast RISA’s AgClimate.org website to provide a platform for presenting information and decision support about climate and agriculture in Hawaii. A program of research will formally evaluate what technology and information works, for whom, and why. Insights from this research will be used to develop recommendations about how climate data and products might be used to facilitate adaptation by the agriculture sector in other parts of the Pacific region.

 

Climate and health:  Dr. Nancy Lewis has long been engaged in research related to climate variability and change and health impacts.  Working with the World Health Organization, Dr. Lewis, with Drs. Michael Hamnett and Cheryl Anderson, facilitated a climate and health workshop in Samoa in 2000.  In working with PEAC researcher, Charles “Chip” Guard, the team used regional climatologies and health data to run exercises for health responses related to climate variability, such as an ENSO cycle.   In previous research, Dr. Lewis and her research team identified links between climate variability and dengue outbreaks in the Pacific region.  In 2004, a workshop was held in Fiji to further explore links between climate and health in the Pacific and to familiarize the public health community with climate science.