A collaborative effort to inform action in the face of a changing climate

Pacific Island governments recognize climate change as one of the greatest threats to security, economy, environment, and peace in the region. The Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment (PIRCA) responds by assessing the state of knowledge about climate change indicators, impacts, and adaptive capacity of the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands and the Hawaiian archipelago. PIRCA is a collaborative effort engaging federal, state, and local government agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia, businesses, and community groups to help inform and prioritize their activities in the face of a changing climate.

A sustained process of information exchange began with the 2012 PIRCA (which produced Climate Change and Pacific Islands: Indicators and Impacts, Island Press) and established a diverse, regional network of stakeholders engaging with climate impacts and adaptation actions. A series of reports being developed and released in 2019-2021 builds on the 2012 PIRCA and the Fourth US National Climate Assessment, offering a closer look at climate change in Pacific Island jurisdictions and providing information for a wide range of sectors. In conjunction with other collaborative regional assessment efforts, the series provides guidance for decision-makers seeking to better understand the significance of climate variability and change for the Pacific Islands region and its peoples.