Hawaiʻi Climate Change and Health Working Group
United by the values of equity, justice, and Aloha, the Hawaiʻi Climate Change and Health Working Group collaborates across disciplines and communities to strengthen Hawaiʻi’s public health resiliency in response to our changing climate.Using a data-driven approach, our mission is to research and communicate the human health impacts of climate change and to advocate for policy solutions that prioritize our most at-risk community members.
Climate Change and Health Impacts
Climate change is already impacting Hawaiʻi. The islands are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to our location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Expected impacts include higher temperatures, rising sea levels, changes in rainfall patterns, more frequent and intense storms, wildfires, increased coastal erosion, biodiversity loss, and ocean acidification.These changes endanger our food and water sources, our marine ecosystems, our air quality, our coastal communities, our ability to respond to disasters, our cultural connections to the land, our agriculture and tourism industries, and our overall health and well-being. Health threats from climate change are widespread but may affect some areas and populations more than others. Please see the resources below to learn more about how Hawaiʻi’s public health is threatened by the climate crisis and what the State is doing to protect our communities.
Graphic: Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in Hawaiʻi (Adapted from California Department of Public Health and CDC
Action Work Groups
The Climate Change and Health Working Group consists of several subgroups to help guide discussions:
Community Response, Mass Care, and Preparedness
Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health
Food Security, Green Spaces, and Land Stewardship
Data, Surveillance, and Policy
Education, Children and Schools, and Parent Education
Oceans, Water, and Flood Events
Membership
This Working Group is a cross-sector collaborative open to anyone and everyone interested in helping to strengthen climate and health resiliency in Hawaiʻi
FAQ
Membership is open to any person or organization.
Action subgroups are open to all members.
Stay in Touch
Subscribe to be sent the latest information, meetings, and events from the Hawaiʻi Climate Change and Health Working Group.
