UH-led Honolulu commission issues sea-level, climate-change guidance
The Honolulu Climate Change Commission, chaired by UH Urban and Regional Planning professor Makena Coffman, has presented its recommendations on sea level rise guidance and climate change to Mayor Kirk Caldwell and members of the Honolulu City Council. In response, Caldwell issued a formal directive to all city departments and agencies to take action in order to address, minimize the risks from and adapt to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise.
In its sea-level rise guidance, the commission emphasized that the city should be planning for high tide flooding associated with 3.2 feet of sea-level rise by mid-century and, because of continued high global carbon emissions, take into consideration 6 feet of sea-level rise in later decades of the century, especially for critical infrastructure with long expected lifespans and low-risk tolerance. The sea-level rise guidelines recommended by the commission are consistent with findings by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
“As a scientist, father and grandfather, I am grateful that Mayor Caldwell is acting with courage and speed on the commission’s recommendations,” said Commision Vice Chair Charles Fletcher, professor of Geology and Geophysics and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of SOEST “I am extremely proud that in the City and County of Honolulu, and throughout the state of Hawaiʻi, our leadership recognizes that every community must act immediately to reduce global carbon emissions and adapt to the climate change risks that are now inevitable. Unless the world joins us, we will all be facing severe and dire consequences.”
Read more about it in the UH System News, Hawaii News Now, and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser (subscription required); also, read the full release on Mayor Caldwell’s directive.