Introducing a new resource on the NOAA RISA Sustained Assessment Specialist network! This 2-page, quick reference sheet provides information about sustained assessment and the current and recent specialists that serve RISA regions.

The RISA Sustained Assessment Specialist Network promotes cross-regional collaboration, leverages expertise, and promotes learning and just solutions within the adaptation community. The network advances a shared vision for sustained assessment.

Sustained assessment specialists (SASs) enhance adaptation and resilience efforts by strengthening the ability of the NOAA Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) teams across the country to be a long-term resource for communities, building lasting relationships with information users. SASs are able to identify information needs and assess RISA contributions to adaptation progress over time, which allows for cross-RISA learning. SASs also use the identified needs in their regions to inform the National Climate Assessment process.

Sustained assessment builds upon subnational, federal, and international climate assessments by providing climate information in a way that is transparent, ongoing, and tailored to meet the needs of decision-makers that are seeking to address climate risk.

Contact the Pacific RISA SAS:

Zena Grecni
Sustained Climate Assessment Specialist,
Pacific RISA, East-West Center
Honolulu, HI
grecniz@eastwestcenter.org

HONOLULU (June 8, 2021) – Human health risks, stronger cyclones, coral reef death, and coastal flooding are among the major challenges detailed in a new report on climate change in American Sāmoa. Threatened resources include high-value coastal infrastructure and the millions of dollars that ocean ecosystems add to American Sāmoa’s economy annually, according to the report by the Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment (PIRCA), a consortium of several government, NGO, and research entities.

Climate Change in the American Sāmoa: Indicators and Considerations for Key Sectors is one in a series of new PIRCA reports. Authors from American Sāmoa Community College, the University of Hawaiʻi, and the East-West Center—along with more than 20 technical contributors from local government, NGOs, and research—collaboratively developed the American Sāmoa PIRCA report.

“Places like American Sāmoa are always likely to be among the very first to see environmental impacts. The ocean is a major part of most aspects of Samoan life, and fishing is our chief industry,” said Congresswoman Uifa‘atali Amata, American Sāmoa’s representative in Congress. “A thorough climate report that is specific to American Sāmoa will be an excellent lasting resource. I appreciate all the work that went into this process, as we work to safeguard our beautiful islands, especially issues like promoting reef health, preventing severe wave damage, and preserving shorelines from erosion.”

Key Messages
Climate Change in American Sāmoa lays out the changes the Territory is already experiencing, as well as what lies ahead. The key messages for decision-makers include:

• Temperatures have risen, and hotter days and nights affect human health. Heat waves can exacerbate a range of pre-existing health issues, and hot weather poses a particular threat to children and elderly people.
• Stronger tropical storms and cyclones are expected globally and around American Sāmoa. More intense tropical cyclones mean a greater potential for loss of life, damage, and public health issues from these storms.
• Sea level rise threatens infrastructure, including drinking water, agriculture, housing, and transportation, as well as ecosystems and cultural sites. More frequent and intense coastal flooding and erosion are anticipated as sea level rise accelerates. Continued effects of the 2009 earthquakes magnify local sea level rise in American Sāmoa.
• Oceans are warming, causing coral bleaching that is already widespread and severe. Extensive coral loss is possible within the next few decades if current trends in rising ocean temperatures continue. American Sāmoa has some of the oldest and largest corals in the world, and coral reefs inject millions of dollars annually into the local economy. In addition, American Sāmoa’s fringing coral reefs provide the best natural shoreline protection for the island.
  Photo: Coral bleaching off Tāfuna, American Sāmoa. Credit: Valentine Vaeoso.

About Climate Change in American Sāmoa and the PIRCA
The collective efforts of the technical contributors, coordinating authors, and PIRCA Advisory Committee made the American Sāmoa PIRCA report possible. The report builds upon the US Fourth National Climate Assessment, offering a closer look at climate change impacts in American Sāmoa and providing information for a wide range of sectors.

The PIRCA is funded and supported by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s RISA Program (through the Pacific RISA), the East-West Center’s Research Program, the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center, and the US Global Change Research Program.

Contact American Sāmoa PIRCA authors:
Kelley Anderson Tagarino, University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program, American Sāmoa Community College, Mapusaga, +1-684-699-3353
Victoria Keener, East-West Center, Honolulu, HI, +1-808-944-7220
Zena Grecni, East-West Center, Honolulu, HI, +1-808-944-7242
Christopher Shuler, University of Hawaiʻi Water Resources Research Center, Honolulu, HI, +1-808-956-7847
Wendy Miles, US Fish and Wildlife Service and East-West Center, Honolulu, HI, +1-808-284-7636

Stronger typhoons, threats to coral reefs, and human health risks are among the major challenges detailed in a new report on climate change in the CNMI. Threatened resources include high-value coastal infrastructure and the millions of dollars that ocean ecosystems add to the CNMI economy annually, according to the 2021 report by the Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment (PIRCA).

Climate Change in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Indicators and Considerations for Key Sectors is one in a series of new PIRCA reports. Authors from the CNMI Office of Planning and Development, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office for Coastal Management, and the East-West Center—along with 50 technical contributors from local governments, NGOs, researchers, and community groups—collaboratively developed the CNMI PIRCA report.

“Since 2019, many of our government agencies under the Planning and Development Advisory Council have supported data collection and analysis efforts led by the East-West Center and other federal and local stakeholders to assess how climate change is impacting the Marianas,” said Governor Ralph DLG Torres. “This resulting report provides updated data on impacts to support climate-wise planning and development. The CNMI relies on a clean and healthy environment for our livelihoods and way of life, and I commend the collaborative efforts of our agencies to help us support sustainable development goals and enable us to adapt to our changing climate to protect our infrastructure, communities, and ecosystems. I thank the Office of Planning and Development for comprehensively mainstreaming considerations of smarter, safer growth through this important work. Together, with data-driven policy guidance, we will plan and achieve resilient growth that properly balances economic development and environmental protection.”

Key Messages
Climate Change in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands lays out the changes the CNMI is already experiencing, as well as what lies ahead. The key messages for decision-makers include:

• Temperatures have risen, and hotter days and nights affect human health. Heat waves can exacerbate a range of pre-existing health issues, and hot weather poses a particular threat to children and elderly people.
• Stronger tropical storms and typhoons are expected globally and around the Mariana Islands. More intense tropical cyclones mean a greater potential for loss of life, damage, and public health issues from these storms.
• Sea level rise threatens infrastructure, including housing, businesses, and transportation, as well as ecosystems and cultural sites. More frequent and intense coastal flooding and erosion are anticipated as sea level rise accelerates.
• Oceans are warming, causing coral bleaching that is already widespread and severe. Extensive coral loss is possible within the next few decades if current trends in rising ocean temperatures continue. Coral reefs inject tens of millions of dollars annually into the local economy.

“Climate change is adding new layers of complexity to the economic and environmental challenges we routinely face in the CNMI,” said Robbie Greene, Coral and Coastal Management Liaison with Lynker Tech at NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management. “Resources such as this report provide clear and concise messaging about the impacts of climate change, and the considerations that CNMI decision makers and resource managers will need to account for to adapt in the coming years. Whether we’re talking about something as broad as economic recovery, or simply putting food on the table, a shifting climate warrants a road map for the Commonwealth’s future, and this report is a great start.”

About Climate Change in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

The collective efforts of the technical contributors, coordinating authors, and PIRCA Advisory Committee made the CNMI PIRCA report possible. The report builds upon the US Fourth National Climate Assessment, offering a closer look at climate change impacts in the CNMI and providing information for a wide range of sectors.   

The PIRCA is funded and supported by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s RISA Program (through the Pacific RISA), the East-West Center’s Research Program, the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center, and the US Global Change Research Program.

• Download and explore the CNMI PIRCA

Featured image/cover photo by Erin Derrington, CNMI Office of Planning and Development

Climate Change in Guam: Indicators and Considerations for Key Sectors is one in a series of new PIRCA reports. Authors from the University of Guam and the East-West Center—along with more than 30 technical contributors from local governments, NGOs, researchers, and community groups—collaboratively developed the Guam PIRCA report.

“Climate change is one of the greatest issues this generation is facing, and how we adapt as an island should be based on the best available information and sound science,” said Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “We are pleased to have this resource to better inform policy and decision-making, so that we may safeguard our critical infrastructure, protect our economy, improve food security, and prepare for increased droughts and wildfires. That is why I have created a Climate Change and Resiliency Commission to provide a strategy for Guam to address the impacts of climate change to our island.”

Key Messages
Climate Change in Guam lays out the changes Guam is already experiencing, as well as what lies ahead. The key messages for decision-makers include:

• Temperatures have risen in Guam, and hotter days and nights affect human health. Heat waves can exacerbate a range of pre-existing health issues, and hot weather poses a particular threat to children and elderly people.
• Stronger tropical storms and typhoons are expected globally and around Guam. More intense tropical cyclones that pack higher wind speeds and more rainfall mean a greater potential for loss of life and damage from these storms.
• Freshwater supplies are at risk. Already, droughts periodically deplete water sources in southern Guam. The combination of possible increased demand for water in hotter weather, more frequent drought, and sea level rise threaten to bring saltwater contamination into wells in northern Guam that supply drinking water.
• Sea level rise threatens infrastructure, including housing and transportation, as well as ecosystems and cultural sites. A 2019 vulnerability assessment forecast that rising sea levels will expose at least 58 percent of Guam’s infrastructure to periodic flooding during this century. Guam and other Pacific Islands will experience sea level rise higher than the global average.
• Oceans are warming, causing coral bleaching that is already widespread and severe. Extensive coral loss is possible within the next few decades if current trends in rising ocean temperatures continue. Coral reefs provide habitat for fish, coastal protection from storms, and inject hundreds of millions of dollars annually into the local economy.

About Climate Change in Guam and the PIRCA
The collective efforts of the technical contributors, coordinating authors, and PIRCA Advisory Committee made the Guam PIRCA report possible. The report builds upon the US Fourth National Climate Assessment, offering a closer look at climate change impacts in Guam and providing information for a wide range of sectors.

The Guam Climate Change Resiliency Commission, the University of Guam, the Pacific RISA, and the US Department of the Interior’s Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center (PI-CASC) jointly held a workshop in October 2019 to gather knowledge that informed the report.

The PIRCA is funded and supported by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s RISA Program (through the Pacific RISA), the East-West Center’s Research Program, the PI-CASC, and the US Global Change Research Program. In conjunction with other regional assessment efforts, the PIRCA provides guidance for decision-makers seeking to better understand how climate variability and change impact the Pacific Islands region and its peoples.

Contact Guam PIRCA authors:

Romina King, University of Guam and PI-CASC, Mangilao, GU, +1-671-735-2874

Zena Grecni, East-West Center, Honolulu, HI, +1-808-944-7242

Wendy Miles, East-West Center, Honolulu, HI, +1-808-690-7932

Victoria Keener, East-West Center, Honolulu, HI, +1-808-944-7220

“We need to be informed of the environmental shifts occurring in Palau as a result of increased global warming. These shifts have and will continue to influence our livelihoods,” said Mr. Erbai Xavier Matsutaro, Palau’s National Climate Change Coordinator. “Therefore, making informed decisions from the best available science is vital and the catalyst for appropriate planning and effective resilience building. This report provides a glimpse of key issues that we need to be aware of and what they mean for Palau. Moreover, it serves as a guide with suggestions to enhance our resilience to climate change.”

Key Messages

Climate Change in Palau lays out the changes Palau is already experiencing, and what lies ahead. The key messages for decision-makers include:

• Air temperatures have risen in Palau, and hotter days and nights affect human health. Heatwaves can exacerbate a range of pre-existing health issues, and hot weather poses a particular threat to children and elderly people.
• Oceans are warming, causing the conditions for coral bleaching events to become more common and severe. If current trends in rising ocean temperatures continue, Palau is likely to experience widespread coral bleaching in the next two decades. Coral reefs provide habitat for fish, coastal protection from storms, and bring tens of millions of dollars annually into the local economy.
• Sea level rise threatens low-lying coastal infrastructure, including schools and transportation, as well as ecosystems and cultural sites.
• Stronger typhoons are expected globally and around Palau. More intense tropical cyclones that pack higher wind speeds and more rainfall mean a greater potential for loss of life and damage from these storms.

“This report is a wake-up call for all of us. We see what the future looks like and we need to take action to mitigate and build our resilience. The cost of inaction is too high,” said Dr. Yimnang Golbuu, Chief Executive Officer of the Palau International Coral Reef Center.

The Pacific RISA team has primary oversight of the 2020-2021 PIRCA. The PIRCA is funded and supported by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s RISA Program, the East-West Center’s Research Program, the US Department of the Interior’s Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center, and the US Global Change Research Program. In conjunction with other regional assessment efforts, the PIRCA provides guidance for decision-makers seeking to better understand how climate variability and change impact the Pacific Islands region and its peoples.

• Download and explore the Palau PIRCA report

The Hawai‘i  legislature is currently reviewing measures that would provide reliable, dedicated  funding to protect the state’s important watershed areas, with the  long-term goal of ensuring a sustainable supply of freshwater for Hawai‘i ’s residents, agriculture, businesses, and ecosystems.  In this legislative session, the Hawai‘i  Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) hopes to ensure funding for the next 10 years for actions that would double the area of protected watershed land in the state.  Two pieces of legislation currently on the table have the potential to move DLNR, and Hawai‘i, toward that goal.

The essentials

“Bag bill”

One proposed measure would establish a fee of 10 cents on each single-use check out bag (including paper and plastic) distributed in the state to directly support the DLNR’s watersheds plan.  A large portion of the collected fees would be deposited into the state’s Natural Areas Reserve Fund, specially designated for expanding watershed protection.[1] If passed, the “bag bill” would take effect on July 1, 2013. In the first six months, up to 20% of funds collected may be used by local businesses to cover the cost of implementing the bag fee, and thereafter businesses could retain up to 10% for this purpose.  Annually, an amount will be reserved for administering and enforcing the fee. The fee would take effect on July 1, 2013, and would provide near-term funding that is critically needed to begin implementing the state’s watershed protection plan while the DLRN actively develops long-term funding streams.  Meanwhile, the state would dramatically cut the number of single-use bags distributed.  If disposable bag use does not decrease by 75% by July 2017, the bill specifies an increase in the fee to 25 cents per bag beginning in 2018.

Conveyance tax bill

A second measure, relating to the real estate conveyance tax, presents another method to secure funding for critical watershed protection.  Senate Bill 1166 and its companion, House Bill 935, would raise the conveyance tax on sales of certain real estate valued at $2 million or more and would increase the portion of the tax going to DLNR watershed projects.  Specifically, the bill would raise the amount of tax revenue deposited into the Natural Area Reserve Fund from 25% to 35%.  Additionally, The bill expands the specified uses of conveyance tax funds to explicitly include invasive species control and projects undertaken in accordance with the DLNR’s watershed plans to protect and restore Hawai‘i’s source of water.

Why watersheds?

There is urgency to the DLNR’s push to secure funding in the 2013 legislative session that arises from concerns over declining freshwater availability and the effects of a changing climate on native forest ecosystems, and ultimately Hawai’i’s freshwater supply.

It is clear that healthy forests provide immense monetary benefits and essential services. Ground water is the main source of drinking water for Hawai‘i residents.  Hawai‘i ’s forests play an important role in recharging aquifers by intercepting rainwater and cloud fog and delivering that water into the ground. While native forest plants accomplish this effectively, increasingly widespread invasive species hinder the replenishment of groundwater.[2] In East Hawai‘i, for example, invasive plants have already decreased the amount of ground water recharge by an estimated 85 million gallons a day. Healthy forests also anchor the soil, preventing erosion and runoff.[3] Additionally, they capture and store carbon dioxide, reducing the amount of the climate change-causing greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.

Now is a critical time to take measures to ensure a sustainable freshwater supply, as climate change is already impacting Hawai‘i.  A downward trend in the amount of rainfall statewide over the last century has been documented, with an even steeper decline since 1980.[4]  Streamflow has decreased. Air temperature has increased significantly, especially at high elevations where many of the remaining native forests exist. The warming and drying trends mean that it is now more important than ever to make sure that when we do get rainfall, we are maximizing the amount of water reaching our aquifers.

Watershed protection has proven to be a cost-effective, efficient way to replenish ground water. And, investing in protecting watersheds is best when done early, before forests become degraded and require expensive and difficult restoration.

Bill status

To be successful, the bills must be reviewed by several legislative committees that will hear testimony and make recommendations to the legislature. If a bill makes it through all of its assigned committees and three votes on the floor of the chamber (House or Senate) in which it was introduced, it “crosses over.” It must then make its way through the other chamber before it goes for a final vote or to conference committees where differences between the House and Senate can be hashed out.  In the case of these two pieces of legislation, members of the legislature have introduced companion bills, allowing the measures to be reviewed in both chambers simultaneously, in hopes of promoting their survival and timely passage. At any point, a committee could defer the bill, neglect to schedule a hearing, or recommend non-passage. Public attention and testimony may strongly affect a measure’s chances of survival.

The “bag bill,” Senate Bill 1165, was assigned to Senate Committees on Water and Land; Energy and Environment; and Ways and Means. Its companion, House Bill 934, has been assigned to House Committees on Energy and Environmental Protection; Consumer Protection and Commerce; and Finance. At this time, no hearings have been scheduled.

House Bill 935, relating to the conveyance tax, was assigned to House Committees on Water and Land; Housing; and Finance. The Committee on Water and Land reviewed the bill and heard testimony on January 28, and ultimately recommended passage with amendments. The bill goes next to the Committee on Housing, where it will be heard today, February 11, at 10:00 a.m. in Conference Room 329. The Senate Committees on Water and Land and Energy and Environment have scheduled a hearing for the companion bill, Senate Bill 1166, on Tuesday, February 12, at 1:15 pm in Conference Room 225.

For updates on the status of these measures, see capitol.hawaii.gov.

On Dec. 26, Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie announced his selection to fill the US Senate seat left vacant by  Senator Daniel K. Inouye’s passing on Dec. 17.  Lt. Governor Brian Schatz will assume the position and will serve through 2014, at which time the seat will be up for re-election.

In his acceptance speech, Lt. Governor Schatz named just a couple of top issues that he will tackle.  Among them was climate change.  “I  believe global climate change is real and it is the most urgent challenge of our generation,” said the soon-to-be Senator.

Earlier this month, Lt. Governor Schatz gave the opening address at the Pacific Islands Regional Climate Forum held at the East-West Center, which convened over 200 scientists, decision makers, and interested members of the public to review and discuss findings of the 2012 Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment report.  A champion of climate change adaptation, Schatz also supported the development of priority guidelines to address climate change, which were added to the State Planning Act through Hawaii’s Act 286 last year.

Lt. Governor Schatz will leave tonight for Washington D.C. to assume the Senate seat representing Hawaii. He promised in his remarks that he would continue to stay in contact with and work with the University of Hawaii and other groups here in the islands.

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.

HONOLULU (December 4, 2012)—The Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment (PIRCA) today released its first report, Climate Change and Pacific Islands: Indicators and Impacts (Island Press). The report highlights the findings of more than 100 scientists and other experts who assessed the state of knowledge about climate change and its impacts on the Hawaiian archipelago and the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands. The report also examines the adaptive capacity of island communities in the region.

“Climate change is real, and it’s already having an impact on Hawai‘i and throughout the Pacific,” said Hawai‘i Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz, who leads the state’s clean energy efforts and Asia Pacific relations. “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.”

Among the major concerns for Pacific Islands discussed in the report are:

• Decreased freshwater supplies in the future
• Higher air temperatures, especially at high elevations
• Higher sea-surface temperatures causing coral bleaching and linked to the increased prevalence of certain coral diseases
• Threats to traditional lifestyles of indigenous Pacific Island communities
• Rising sea levels, causing coastal flooding and erosion that are likely to damage coastal infrastructure and agriculture, impact tourism, and negatively affect ecosystems and endangered species.

“The effects of climate change are already being seen across the Pacific, and now the PIRCA report provides a foundation for prioritizing adaptation measures,” said Dr. Victoria Keener, East-West Center Fellow and Lead Editor for the report. “The report is a truly collaborative effort, incorporating many perspectives to create a clear picture of what is known about climate change in the Pacific Islands to date, and what we still need to study.”

Free Public Forum Dec. 10

To highlight and discuss the report’s findings, PIRCA will hold a free public forum on Monday, December 10 from 9:00 AM to noon at the Hawai’i Imin International Conference Center, 1777 East-West Road, Honolulu. Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz will give an opening address, followed by a presentation on PIRCA’s findings and a panel discussion with leaders from diverse sectors across Hawai’i and the Pacific region. Please visit http://tinyurl.com/pircaforum to RSVP for this event.

The 2012 PIRCA report is one in a series of technical contributions to the 2013 National Climate Assessment (NCA). The NCA is conducted under the auspices of the Global Change Research Act of 1990, which requires a report to the US President and Congress every four years on the status of climate change science and impacts. The 2012 PIRCA and the 2013 NCA will inform the nation about already observed changes and anticipated trends. Policymakers will use the NCA to set federal science priorities.  Government agencies, communities, and businesses will utilize both reports to make decisions and plans for the future.

For more information about specific aspects of the report, please contact the following people: