Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative

Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative
Name	Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative
Formation	2009
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	Honolulu, Hawaii
Area served	Pacific Islands

Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative

The Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative is a regional research and conservation initiative focused on climate change impacts across the Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia regions. It connects scientific programs, resource managers, indigenous communities, and institutions to inform adaptation planning for islands including Hawaii, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The Cooperative synthesizes climate science, traditional ecological knowledge, and resource management to guide policy and practice in contexts such as coral reef resilience and coastal vulnerability.

Overview

The Cooperative operates at the intersection of applied science and resource stewardship, linking initiatives like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's climate services, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's refuge management, the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa's research programs, the East-West Center's Pacific policy work, and the United States Geological Survey's Pacific projects. It addresses climate stressors including sea level rise as studied by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, ocean acidification monitored by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and increasing storm intensity documented by the National Hurricane Center. The Cooperative engages stakeholders from territorial governments such as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Territory of American Samoa, as well as regional bodies like the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

History and Establishment

The Cooperative was established in the late 2000s with support from agencies including the U.S. Department of the Interior and programs linked to the Pacific Islands Forum. Its formation followed growing attention to island vulnerability after events studied by researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and policy discussions similar to those at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change conferences. Founding collaborations included scholars from the University of Guam, conservation teams from the Nature Conservancy Pacific program, and practitioners from the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources. Early projects built on methodologies from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and guidance from the National Research Council.

Mission and Objectives

The Cooperative’s mission centers on delivering usable science to protect natural and cultural resources across Pacific islands. Objectives reflect priorities found in plans like the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force strategy and include assessing ecosystem vulnerabilities using techniques from the Center for Ocean Solutions and fostering capacity-building akin to programs at the Australian National University's climate policy centers. It aims to bridge academic research from institutions such as the University of the South Pacific with management needs of entities like the Palau National Government and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs address coral reef restoration drawing on protocols used by the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program, watershed management modeled after projects in American Samoa, invasive species responses similar to those coordinated by the Pacific Invasives Initiative, and community adaptation planning comparable to frameworks used by the World Wildlife Fund. Initiatives include vulnerability assessments informed by datasets from the National Centers for Environmental Information, scenario planning influenced by the Energy Information Administration, and traditional knowledge integration practiced with partners such as the Bishop Museum and the Aga Khan Development Network in regionally relevant contexts.

Partnerships and Collaborations

The Cooperative maintains partnerships with federal agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency, academic partners such as Oregon State University and the University of California, Santa Cruz, conservation NGOs like Conservation International and the NatureServe network, and regional organizations like the Micronesia Conservation Trust and Pew Charitable Trusts initiatives. Collaborative projects have engaged international bodies including the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme and donor agencies with programs similar to the Asian Development Bank's climate financing. Community-level collaboration involves municipal authorities in places like Pago Pago and traditional leaders from islands such as Kwajalein Atoll.

Organizational Structure and Governance

The Cooperative is governed through a board and advisory committees combining representatives from scientific institutions, territorial agencies, and indigenous organizations. Governance practices draw on models used by entities like the National Science Foundation and corporate structures found in nonprofit consortia such as the Smithsonian Institution affiliates. Staffing includes scientists with backgrounds from centers such as the Center for Coastal Studies, program managers experienced with grantmaking bodies like the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and outreach specialists with ties to cultural institutions such as the Kamehameha Schools.

Impact and Criticism

The Cooperative has influenced adaptation planning for coastal infrastructure projects in jurisdictions including Hawaiʻi County and informed conservation strategies for species protected under frameworks like the Endangered Species Act. Its assessments have supported grant applications to fund resilience projects from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and regional restoration efforts involving the Coral Restoration Foundation. Criticism has focused on challenges common to multi-stakeholder science programs: balancing local traditional knowledge with peer-reviewed science as debated in forums such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, securing sustained funding amid shifts in priorities seen in agencies like the U.S. Congress, and ensuring equitable representation for smaller island governments such as the Republic of Palau.

Category:Climate change organizations Category:Pacific Islands