The Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment (PIRCA) has launched its new website at PIRCA.org.  The website provides a wealth of information and resources about climate change in Hawai‘i and the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI).

The new website makes it easier to access the 2012 PIRCA Report, Climate Change and Pacific Islands: Indicators and Impacts and its findings, case studies, and figures. More than 100 scientific experts and practitioners contributed to the report, an integrated regional assessment that serves as technical input to the Third U.S. National Climate Assessment. The 2012 PIRCA report examines climate change impacts in Hawai‘i and the USAPI and assesses the adaptive capacity of Pacific Island communities.

In addition to showcasing the 2012 assessment report, the new PIRCA website hosts updated information, including the latest observed climate trends and projections for Hawai‘i and the USAPI from the scientists and federal agencies who work with PIRCA. Key features enable anyone to view climate-related content by topic or location. This content includes, for example, charts and illustrations, animated data visualizations, maps, videos, presentations, and case studies that highlight real-world examples of impacts and adaptation in a variable and changing climate. The News section operates much like a blog, providing updates and announcements about regional climate assessment activities and the U.S. National Climate Assessment.

“Now, more than ever, a regional source of climate information is essential for making informed decisions about the future,” said Dr. Victoria Keener, a hydrologist, East-West Center fellow, and lead author of the 2012 PIRCA report. “With President Obama’s recent visit to the islands highlighting a growing need for climate change adaptation, decision-makers are looking to PIRCA, and the scientists involved, for up-to-date analysis and resources. The website makes this two-way communication easier.”

The PIRCA website is supported by funding from the East-West Center, the Department of Interior’s Pacific Islands Climate Science Center, the Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through the Pacific Research on Island Solutions for Adaptation (RISA) Program.

Contact: Zena Grecni, (808) 944-7242, grecniz@eastwestcenter.org