Managing The Catastrophic Impacts Of Sea Level Rise In Hawaii

摘要

Global average temperatures increased by 1.3°F (plus or minus 0.3°F) over the 20th Century and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are now higher than at any time in the past half a million years. Global sea-level rise is an ongoing and accelerating process with high likelihood of becoming a serious threat to coastal environments and development in coming decades. Recognizing that sea-level rise will cause significant changes to Hawaii's landscape in coming years is an important first step for planners in this Pacific island state. The number of global "environmental refugees" is expected to reach 50 million by 2010, with small, low-lying island populations at the greatest risk. Sarah Potter in a policy study entitled "The Sting of Cimate Change" (Potter, 2008), addressed this rise in environmental refugees and the impacts on public health.