Climate Change Infographic: Hawai'i and Pacific Islands

In Hawaii and the US affiliated Pacific Islands, climate change is having a significant impact on not only the ecosystems and environment, but also on the lives and cultures. The warming and acidification of the oceans are leading to an increase in coral bleaching events and disease outbreaks, as well as the reduction of coral growth and health. Patterns of distributions of tuna fisheries are also highly affected by the ocean warming. Freshwater supplies are already limited on islands and will become even more limited, as sea levels rise and reduce the quality as well as quantity available in the coastal aquifers. Increasing temperatures, and in some areas, decreased rainfall, put stress on native plants and animals and allow the area to have increased exposure to invasive species. In turn, the risk of extinction significantly increases. Rising sea levels due to climate change can increase coastal flooding and erosion, as well as damage coastal ecosystems, infrastructure and agriculture. Finally, all of these threats to food and water security, as well as to infrastructure and the safety and health of the public have led to the migration of people to islands with higher elevation, which affects the sustainability of the regions to support themselves.

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