The Pacific Islands Regional Climate Forum was held on December 10, 2012 at the East-West Center’s Imin International Conference Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i.  The forum brought together researchers, sector leaders, and other interested individuals to share information about climate change in the Pacific Islands. To kick-start the two-day meeting, a public forum drew over 200 public participants on the morning of December 10. The public form also served as the official release of the 2012 Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment (PIRCA) report.

The forum opened with remarks from Hawai‘i  Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz.  “Climate change is real, and it’s already having an impact on Hawai‘i and throughout the Pacific,” said the Lieutenant Governor before the forum. “We islanders must make the necessary preparations for warmer, unstable weather. It will affect every aspect of our society and economy, including agriculture, real estate and tourism. The time is now for serious change.”

Following the Lieutenant Governor’s remarks, Dr. Victoria Keener, Fellow at the East-West Center and Lead Editor of the PIRCA report, presented a summary of the findings and responded to questions from the audience.  To focus discussion on local and regional issues, a panel of experts and decision-makers from a range of sectors presented their perspectives and engaged in dialogue with the audience.

Media organizations were present, and stories about the PIRCA report and forum appeared in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and on Honolulu Civil Beat’s website. A news segment featuring interviews with the report’s editors and contributors aired on the network KHON in Hawai‘i the evening of December 10.

For more information about the Honolulu forum, visit our PIRCA subregional fora page.