{"id":209170,"date":"2025-01-14T08:54:33","date_gmt":"2025-01-14T18:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=209170"},"modified":"2025-01-14T08:54:33","modified_gmt":"2025-01-14T18:54:33","slug":"cat-policy-paper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/01\/14\/cat-policy-paper\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> experts advise state on steps to prevent climate disasters"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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(Photo credit: Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Department of Land and Natural Resources)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Strategies to enhance Â鶹´«Ã½’s<\/span> resilience to climate-related disasters are the focus of a new comprehensive policy paper<\/a> presented by members of the state\u2019s Climate Advisory Team (CAT<\/abbr>), who all have ties to the University of Â鶹´«Ã½.<\/span> The paper, which was released on January 7, emphasizes immediate actions and long-term policies to help prepare the state for future challenges.<\/p>\n

According to a statewide survey of more than 600 Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> residents conducted by CAT<\/abbr> in October 2024, 71% of respondents believe that what happened in Lahaina, Maui could happen in their community, but only 39% think their community is prepared to withstand a natural disaster.<\/p>\n

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Top row: From left, Chris Benjamin, Denise Antolini, Robin Campaniano and Chip Fletcher. Bottom row: From left, Kawika Riley and Gwen Yamamoto Lau.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the paper\u2019s top recommendations is to establish a permanent resilience office to provide the necessary leadership and coordination of a strategic, integrated approach to improve Â鶹´«Ã½\u2019s<\/span> resilience and preparedness for climate-related disasters.<\/p>\n

“Â鶹´«Ã½’s<\/span> geographic isolation, aging infrastructure and increasing exposure to natural disasters mandate that resilience be among our highest priorities as a state,” said Chris Benjamin, the chair of CAT<\/abbr> and member of the UH<\/abbr> Mānoa Shidler College of Business<\/a> Advisory Council. “Failure to increase our focus and spending on disaster readiness will jeopardize lives and our economic viability. Countless employees and volunteers at the state, county and community levels are devoted to resilience and we must provide the funding and coordination necessary to ensure their success.”<\/p>\n

UH<\/abbr> experts and alumni who contributed to the paper include: Denise Antolini, professor of law emerita at the William S. Richardson School of Law<\/a>; Robin Campaniano, UH<\/abbr> Mānoa alumnus and chair of the Shidler College of Business Advisory Council; Chip Fletcher, interim dean of the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology<\/a>; Kawika Riley, UH<\/abbr> alumnus; and Gwen Yamamoto Lau, UH<\/abbr> Mānoa alumna.<\/p>\n

Other recommendations include:<\/p>\n