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Pacific RISA on PBS Hawai‘i

Dr. Victoria Keener appears on PBS Hawai‘i’s “Insights”

Watch the video here.

President Barak Obama, in his State of the Union address, promised federal action to address climate change. Hawai‘i Governor Neil Abercrombie, in the State of the State address, emphasized the importance of protecting watersheds and preserving island freshwater resources.  At a time when leaders are paying attention to climate issues, PBS Hawai‘i’s weekly program “Insights” brought together experts to examine the ramifications of climate change in Hawai‘i from the scientific, environmental, and policy perspectives.

Pacific RISA Program Manager Dr. Victoria Keener was a guest on the February 14 show along with guests Mr. William Aila, Director of the Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources; Mr. Stanton Enomoto, Cultural Adaption Coordinator at the Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative; and Dr. Charles Fletcher, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Geology and Geophysics at UH Manoa.

Dr. Keener is lead editor of the recently released Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment report, a compilation of the current scientific knowledge about climate change impacts in Hawai‘i and the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands. On last Thursday’s episode of “Insights” she emphasized that climate change is affecting islands today. “We’re already seeing decreased rainfall in a long-term trend across the state of Hawai‘i , and we’re already seeing that affect our ecosystems, especially at the…highest elevations on the mountains where it’s warming the fastest,” Dr. Keener told host Dan Boylan.

When asked about how we can mitigate or adapt to climate change, Dr. Keener explained Pacific RISA’s approach to helping Pacific Island communities by translating scientific and technical knowledge for the public and decision makers. She pointed out that this outreach can help policymakers make informed decisions in adapting to climate change.

The show aired on Thursday, February 14, 2013, and was rebroadcast on Saturday, February 16.  Learn more about “Insights” on PBS Hawai‘i on their website.