Climate change an
economic challenge

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By Eileen Shea
East-West Center

The drought caused by the 1997-98 El Nino was a clear example of how vulnerable the Pacific islands are to changes in climate. Those years also underlined the need for policymakers as well as business leaders, especially in key sectors such as tourism and agriculture, to consider climate in both short-term and longer planning.

This month the public will be invited to comment on a draft report of an initial Pacific Island Regional Assessment of the Consequences of Climate Variability and Change. The study will be available online toward the end of the month. (Look for a link at www.eastwestcenter.org.)

The report looks at ways communities, businesses and government agencies can enhance their resilience and response to year-to-year climate variations like El Niño as well as to long-term climate change.

The 18-month study focused on six activities that are sensitive to weather and climate: providing access to fresh water; protecting public health; ensuring public safety and protecting community infrastructure; sustaining tourism; sustaining agriculture; and promoting wise use of marine and coastal resources. All six areas are particularly important to Hawaii.

Tourism, which dominates Hawaii's economy, is extremely climate sensitive, especially in terms of what industry participants in the Regional Assessment called the "three keys" to tourism: public safety, public health, and infrastructure. Vulnerability to climate in any of these areas could jeopardize the viability of tourism. Some examples: changes in the patterns of tropical storms affect public safety; a rise in the sea level threatens low-lying roads, airports and other infrastructure, as well as beaches and hotel locations; and drought limits access to freshwater.

In addition, the draft report recognizes that the tourism industry depends on the natural resources of the islands -- the coral reefs, tropical forests and water quality -- and therefore has the responsibility to look at the impact of climate not only on tourism business itself but on the natural systems that sustain that business.

The study also encourages communities to be active in pre-disaster planning and preparedness rather than just response.

Finally, the report calls for the establishment of a sustained dialogue and partnership among policy makers, community members, business leaders and scientists to address the strong link between climate and development.

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Eileen Shea is the climate project coordinator at the
East-West Center. She can be reached at 944-7253
or email sheae@eastwestcenter.org