United States: The United States government, under the leadership and guidance of President Joe Biden, has taken a step towards the growth and strengthening of climate resilience in the Native Hawaiian community.
During the initial weeks of the month of November, the US Department of the Interior announced the availability of funding worth US$20 million in the Investing in America agenda, led by President Biden.
The administration made this announcement while releasing the Fifth National Climate Assessment. The government has released the assessment to evaluate climate change in the United States, along with its impacts. The assessment also informed about the ways to reduce the impacts and analyzed the future risks.
The Inflation Reduction Act will be offering funds to the latest announcement of the US Department of the Interiors. It is a part of the President’s Investing in America Agenda and ‘Bidenomics’ strategy.
According to the officials, the Biden-Harris Administration has been deploying record investments to provide affordable high-speed internet, modern wastewater and sanitation systems, safer roads and bridges, clean drinking water, good-paying jobs in communities across the country, and reliable and affordable electricity.
The US Department of the Interiors further explained the reason behind the program’s name. Reportedly, the program has been named Kapapahuliau as it seeks to provide the imagery and foundation (papa) of a voyaging canoe (waʻa) and crew experiencing the changes (huli) in wind and currents over time (au).
Who are the beneficiaries of the funding?
Kapapahuliau Climate Resilience Program, an initiative of the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations (ONHR), will benefit from the funding. The news statement by the US Department of the Interior underlined the usage of funds and mentioned that resources will be provided to fight against climate change, such as improvement of climate resilience measures, the repair and recovery of structures and cultural sites, and the maintenance of the integrity and identity of the Native Hawaiian people while enhancing the capacity of the Native Hawaiian Community for climate adaptation.
United States Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland addressed the matter and said, “Hawaii is on the frontlines of some of climate change’s most damaging effects. Through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we are making transformational commitments to assist the Native Hawaiian Community in planning for and implementing climate resilience measures and safeguarding Hawaii for generations to come.”
Why Hawaii needs special funding to fight against the crisis?
The climate crisis, including sea level rise and ocean acidification, has resulted in coastal flooding, erosion and coral bleaching. These natural activities have negatively impacted traditional Native Hawaiian practices, including cultivation and fishpond maintenance, and affected coastal communities as well as nearshore fisheries.
In addition to this, increasing temperatures have also caused the killing of native bird species, making them extinct and endangered. Furthermore, concerns have been raised related to the fires and extensive floods – damaging homes, businesses, roads and agricultural lands.