Sea Level Rise Is A Science Issue, Not Just An Environmental Concern

Hawai‘i faces an undeniable and accelerating threat from climate change. Sea level rise, tropical cyclone intensification, prolonged droughts, “rain bombs,” and marine heat waves are no longer distant possibilities — they are realities reshaping our islands. Yet, some still dismiss the integration of sea level rise into government policies and regulations as merely an “environmental issue.” This perspective is not only misguided but dangerous. Sea level rise is a science issue — and public policies must be grounded in science if Hawai‘i is to protect its people, economy, and future… Read More

Column: Hawaii’s climate call: Lead on adaptation, mitigation

November 10, 2024

As we pass the halfway point of the 2020s, the climate crisis is escalating at a pace that defies our preparedness. Global greenhouse gas emissions remain dangerously high, and this year set records for both heat and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, with CO2 concentration rising by an unprecedented 3.4 parts per million, an 86% increase over the previous year’s growth rate, marking the highest rise in recorded history. Last year, natural carbon sinks like forests and soils absorbed nearly no carbon, and essential climate system components — including ice sheets, ocean circulation and tropical forests — are approaching irreversible tipping points. The world is currently on track for a temperature increase of 2.6 to 3.1 C by century’s end, a rise that would make large areas of our planet unlivable… Read More