Kauaʻi communities encouraged to share feedback on Climate Adaptation Plan

The county of Kauaʻi is seeking public input after completing a draft of the Climate Adaptation and Action Plan, which includes 79 bold actions to help Kauaʻi prepare for climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Global air and ocean temperatures are rising, resulting in changes in local temperature, precipitation, winds, and sea level. According to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, human influence has unequivocally contributed to warming the atmosphere, ocean, and land by increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.

While hazards such as heat waves, droughts, and tropical cyclones occur naturally, they are projected or are already observed to be more intense and frequent due to climate change.

The general plan directs agencies to prepare for the impacts of climate change. Therefore, the county has developed a draft Climate Adaptation Plan using the best available science to present a framework of actions ensuring that people, places, and natural and built systems can adapt to and mitigate climate change.

The final Kauaʻi Climate Adaptation Plan will:

• Incorporate residents’ knowledge of Kauaʻi’s environment and community-specific vulnerabilities.
• Build on related plans, including the Kauaʻi General Plan, the Multi-Hazard Mitigation and Resiliency Plan, and the West Kauaʻi Community Vulnerability Assessment.
• Assess Kauaʻi island’s exposure and vulnerability to climate risks and hazards.
• Recommend adaptation strategies and identify priority actions.

Kauaʻi’s communities are invited to share their opinion, voice their concerns, detail how they have been personally impacted by climate change, and inform adaptation strategies at three more open house events in the next two weeks, which are listed below:

• May 6: Open House, 5-7 p.m., Waipā Foundation, Keanolani Hale
• May 13: Open House and East Kauaʻi Climate Hazards Workshop, 4:30-7 p.m., Kalukalu Economic Resilience Center, 1624 Kūhiō Highway, Kapaʻa
• May 15: Open House, 5-7 p.m., Hanapēpē Public Library

For more information and to review the draft plan, visit kauaiadaptation.com.

If an auxiliary aid or service or other accommodation is needed due to a disability, contact Marie Williams at 808-241-4050 or mwilliams@kauai.gov as soon as possible. Requests made as early as possible will allow adequate time to fulfill your request.