New look at sea level rise

LIHUE — A report on sea level rise vulnerabilities and adaptation has been released by the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, known as the Climate Commission, and the 304 pages are available online.

The Climate Commission was created in the fall of 2016 and was mandated to create the Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report by Dec. 31.

It was developed in partnership with the Department of Land and Natural Resources Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands and provides the first state-wide assessment of Hawaii’s vulnerability to sea level rise.

“While the SLR report focuses on sea level rise vulnerabilities and adaptation, it should also strengthen Hawaii’s resolve to do our part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with Act 32 and the Paris Agreement,” — said DLNR chair Suzanne Case.

Hawaii and a group of 16 U.S. states are part of a U.S. Climate Alliance that is honoring the U.S. commitment, made under President Barak Obama, to reduce its carbon emissions under the guidelines of the Paris Agreement.

The authors of the report note that much of what happens with future SLR depends on the ability or inability of nations to implement aggressive carbon emissions reductions, envisioned through the 2016 Paris Agreement.

“This report is intended to serve as a framework for identifying and managing other climate change threats facing Hawaii,” said state office of planning director Leo Asuncion.

Unusual or forceful weather events, tidal activity and shorelines are all included in the report.