Workshops on Climate Variability and Change
in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands:
Challenges and Opportunities
April-May 2006

The East-West Center, together with local weather offices and local coastal management offices, hosted a series of two-day workshops to explore the impacts of changing climate conditions for the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI). These in-country workshops took place in the following locations:

• Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands April 12-13, 2006
• Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia April 18-19, 2006
• Guam April 24-25, 2006
• Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands April 26-27, 2006
• Koror, Republic of Palau May 1-2, 2006

Representatives from government, businesses, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations and communities were invited to participate in discussions of the impacts of year-to-year climate variability associated with El Niño, La Niña, and long-term climate change for the communities, natural resources and businesses of the USAPI. Through lectures, panel presentations and facilitated discussions, participants explored a variety of topics including:

• The nature and impacts of climate variability and change for the USAPI including current patterns of rainfall, temperature and tropical cyclones and how those patterns might be altered by climate change;
• Improving understanding of the USAPI’s vulnerability to climate variability and change in key sectors including: water resources and power utilities; disaster management; fisheries; coastal resource management, including coral reefs; agriculture and tourism;
• Exploring opportunities to enhance the USAPI’s resilience in the face of climate variability and change; and
• Identification of critical information needs and priorities including the role of marine protected areas, education and requirements for enhanced climate and ocean observations.

These Workshops are part of an East-West Center project entitled “Addressing The Challenges and Opportunities of Climate Change for Pacific Islands” funded by the Coastal Services Center of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with additional direct and in-kind support provided by the East-West Center and the US NOAA National Weather Service.

For more information on these workshops please contact Cheryl Anderson at canderso@hawaii.edu or Sarah Jones at peac@noaa.gov.