ADVANCEMENT OF THE PRACTICE
Map of Hawaii and the Pacific Islands FIGURE 1
lack of coastal flood hazard modeling and sea level rise exposure mapping, limited downscaled climate projections, insucient information on water resources, and scarce data on ecosystem responses (Grecni et al., 2020, 2021; Keener et al., 2012, 2021; Pol- hemus, 2017). Similar gaps exist in socio- economic and health data related to migra- tion, health outcomes from extreme weather events, food supply chain vulnerabilities, and resource-dependent livelihoods (Bar- nett, 2020; Dyer, 2017; Johnson et al., 2020; McIver et al., 2015). Indigenous knowledge systems and stew- ardship, despite being foundational to climate change response, have long been underval- ued, suppressed, and ignored by Western science, only recently gaining recognition as valid knowledge sources at the federal level (Keener et al., 2022; Oce of Science and Technology Policy [OSTP], 2022; Winter et al., 2023). Addressing these data gaps is cru- cial for enabling data-driven decision-making and improving climate services in the region (Frazier et al., 2023). Pacific Islander communities—and in particular Indigenous Peoples—are facing the loss of their ancestral lands, cultural sites, and traditional practices (CDC, 2020). Despite these immense challenges, Pacific Islander communities have demonstrated Guam Fisherman: A lone fisherman on a beach in Guam underscores the vital role of fishing in Pacific Island economies and cultures, while the dramatic sky hints at the increasing climate-related challenges threatening this traditional way of life.
remarkable resilience and are leading eorts to adapt to climate change impacts (Mcleod et al., 2019). They cannot, however, do it alone. An urgent need exists for increased awareness, resources, and support to address the environmental public health crisis in the USAPI (Mcleod et al., 2019). This article explores the key climate change impacts on Hawaiian and USAPI communi- ties, their environmental public health risks and vulnerabilities, and the opportunities for action to support climate resilience and health equity in the Pacific Islands. The unique geographical, ecological, and socioeconomic characteristics of the USAPI make these islands particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change (Frazier et al., 2023; Spencer et al., 2020; Techera, 2013). Climate change is amplifying exist- ing environmental public health threats in the USAPI and introducing new challenges (Frazier et al., 2023). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2020, 2024a) reports that rising sea levels, coastal ero- Climate Change Indicators in Hawaii and the USAPI
sion, saltwater intrusion, drought, flooding, and extreme weather events are endangering critical infrastructure, contaminating fresh- water resources, and disrupting food systems. These factors are also increasing vectorborne diseases, water-related illnesses, food safety issues, and mental health issues. The Pacific Islands Climate Change Monitor 2021 provides an overview of the observed climatic changes across the USAPI as the result of ongoing human-forced climate change and underlying natural variability (Marra et al., 2022). Since 1959, the record concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) at the National Oceanic and Atmo- spheric Administration’s (NOAA) Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii has increased by >100 ppm, to an annual average value >414 ppm in 2020. Furthermore, as of December 2020, the combined impact of the greenhouse gases CO 2 , methane (CH 4 ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), and halogenated compounds (e.g., chloro- fluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons) equate to a CO 2 concentration of 504 ppm. Subsequently, since 1951 the annual aver- age air temperatures across the Pacific Islands region increased by 2 °F (1.1 °C), with seven
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Volume 87 • Number 9
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