“Unless we take action today, we will lose all the beauty, many of our beaches not only in this state, but all over the world,” said the mayor of Maui.
Rising sea levels, combined with frequent storms in recent years, are causing faster-than-usual erosion of Hawaii’s beaches and coastline.
“Coastal problems are related to climate change. Everyone who lives here in Hawaii is an oceanographer … You watch the tides … you pay attention to the waves.
You can’t ignore or forget the problems because you see them every day, “said coastal expert Tara Owens.
According to a recent ProPublica report, three of Hawaii’s major islands have lost approximately a quarter of their beaches. Sea levels are also rising by about 2.5 centimeters every four years, threatening 70% of Hawaii’s coastline.
Owens said that in Maui alone, 85% of the coastline is eroding and that the beaches are “narrowing” as a result. “Here in Hawaii … our community is very aware and engaged and I think that’s something we need to share with the rest of the country that may not be able to see what we see,” she continued. .
In response to the UN Red Code for Humanity and the possible “loss of assets of $ 3 billion over the next few years,” Hawaii became the first state to declare a climate emergency, according to Maui Mayor Mike Victorino.
“Unless we take action today, we will lose all the beauty, many of our beaches not only in this state, but around the world,” he said.
Victorino has accused fossil fuel companies of playing a key role in the climate change effects Maui is experiencing. According to a study conducted by the State Energy Service of Hawaii, the state expects to pay “at least $ 19 billion in losses from sea level rise alone.”
“The fossil fuel industry has not been honest with people around the world, with an island nation like us, in all island nations like us, and island nations are the ones that suffer the most, the fastest,” the mayor said.
The UN has said that the jump in sea level rise, which is pushing the population inward and rising ocean temperatures, may be due to rising global temperatures. The report also states that the Earth is dangerously close to reaching global warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
According to the UN report, if the Earth reaches a warming of 2 degrees Celsius, the population will experience extreme heat, which “more often would reach critical tolerance thresholds.” The report states that these extremes are likely to affect natural water production, agriculture and overall health.
