Puerto Rico's Climate Crisis: Experts Brief Congress On Extreme Weather Woes Soon To Be Shared With Mainland U.S.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a Capitol Hill briefing today organized by the Latino Climate Action Network (LCAN), Senate and House staffers heard leading experts outline the extent of the increasingly grave Puerto Rico climate crisis, the steps being taken to address it, and how Puerto Rico's climate-related woes soon will be a fate shared by much of the mainland U.S.

The experts also spoke at a national news conference held immediately after the Capitol Hill briefing hosted by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi.  Representatives of 40 Congressional offices and three federal agencies attended the briefing.  To see the presentation made today on Capitol Hill, go to http://bit.ly/PuertoRicoClimate.

Puerto Rico is one of the vulnerable places on Earth to the worsening ravages of climate change.  In Puerto Rico, approximately 419,000 people live within the coastal zone, and 2.3 million live within the 44 coastal municipalities of the Commonwealth.  Although all of Puerto Rico (including Culebra and Vieques) are coastal areas, the coastal zone is defined as 1 kilometer inland with additional distance for key natural systems.  These populations are exposed to specific climate-related hazards such as coastal and riverine flooding, tsunamis, hurricanes, landslides, earthquakes and droughts.

Dr. Cecilio Ortiz, associate professor of Public Administration and Policy, Department of Social Science, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, said:  "It is no longer a question of whether the coasts of Puerto Rico and many port cities in the Caribbean will be inundated, but rather it is a question of when and by how much.  Heat waves, extreme precipitation events, and a host of other ill effects from climate change already being seen in Puerto Rico are a precursor for what can be expected in the mainland U.S.  What we are already experiencing now will soon by the norm in much of the United States."

Javier Laureano,executive director, San Juan Bay Estuary Program, said:  "Both rapid-onset and slow-onset climate hazards pose substantial risks to many coastal communities of Puerto Rico. Storm surges, winter swells, tsunamis, coral bleaching are examples of rapid-onset events, while sea level rise and ocean acidification are examples of slow-onset events. Risks from these phenomena are projected to increase due to continued development in hazardous locations, changes in the frequency and intensity of inundation events, and acceleration in the rate of change along vulnerable shorelines.  Adequate attention must be given to respond to the impacts of coastal hazards that are already occurring and at the same time prepare for future impacts. Strengthening the ability of Puerto Rico to reduce risks will safeguard economic progress and increase the resilience of our ecosystems and our people."

Ernesto Díaz, director, Coastal Zone Management Program, said: "Vulnerabilities to climate hazards are widespread in Puerto Rico and a result of multiple factors, such as continuing development in high hazards areas, poor maintenance of existing shoreline stabilization structures and stormwater management systems, poor maintenance and dredging of rivers, canals and reservoirs, lack of soil management practices on land and in watersheds, and from the elimination of dunes, reefs, mangroves, and other naturally protective features that reduce the negative effects of hazard events. While these problems persist, some corrective measures have been implemented since the 1970s, such as water quality and flood control initiatives, habitat restoration and other enhancement projects."

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) said:  "Climate change is real, it is here, and it is time to act because the effects of global climate change will be felt on coastal communities everywhere - including Puerto Rico. We have much more work to do in fighting the causes of global climate change and protect future generations. I want to thank the leading scientists and environmental specialists from Puerto Rico that are attending this briefing today for their important work. These experts have documented eroding shorelines due to rising sea levels and as the growth of invasive species due to the increase as a result of changing temperatures. I look forward to working with them."

Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi said:  "The impact of global climate change in Puerto Rico is real, quantifiable and significant.  All island residents, whether they live in coastal or inland municipalities, are vulnerable to weather events that the latest science indicates have been made more intense and frequent as a result of climate change, like droughts and heavy rains.  Today's Capitol Hill briefing provides an opportunity for policymakers, academic experts and other interested parties to exchange ideas about this important subject.  It is clear that we must enhance our efforts to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change; to better protect the integrity of our ecosystem, including our watersheds, beaches, plants and wildlife; and to make our public infrastructure more resilient so that it can withstand extreme weather events." 

To guide decision making processes in Puerto Rico around coastal development and natural resource management the Puerto Rico Coastal Zone Management Program (PRCZMP) has partnered with over 140 researchers, planners, architects, practitioners, agency representatives and communications experts to develop a comprehensive climate change vulnerability assessment for Puerto Rico.

News of the climate crisis back home is a closely watched topic by Puerto Ricans living in the United States.  The top 10 markets in the United States for Puerto Ricans are:  New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA; Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD; Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL; Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL; Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH;  Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT; Springfield, MA; and New Haven-Milford, CT.

ABOUT LCAN

The mandate of the Latino Climate Action Network is drawn from the mission of El Puente "to inspire and nurture leaders for peace and justice." Specifically, El Puente seeks to empower Latinos (Puerto Rico and Stateside) to build 21st century community sustainability through holistic preparedness plans that integrate climate change strategies in the context of culture, education equity and social justice. Lead by Luis Garden Acosta, El Puente launched LCAN on February 28, 2013 in Puerto Rico by convening and facilitating Puerot Rico's first Leadership Summit on Climate Change.  For more information, see http://elpuente.us/content/latino-climate-action-network-overview.

EDITOR'S NOTE:  A streaming audio replay of this news event will be available as of 5 p.m. EDT on September 18, 2014 at http://bit.ly/PuertoRicoClimate. 

SOURCE Latino Climate Action Network, Puerto Rico