This Phase 1 Draft report was prepared in accordance with the May 7, 2014, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) Planning Aid Letter (PAL), Scope of Work (SOW) and Budget for assisting the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHA) and the American Samoa Department of Public Works (DPW) with a marine resource and impact assessment associated with installation of shoreline protection structures to stabilize highway roadbeds.
Pacific Island Developing Countries (PIDCs) contribute a minuscule 0.03 percent to global carbon dioxide emissions, with residents producing only a quarter of the world's average emissions per person. However, despite their minimal emissions, these nations are expected to face some of the earliest and harshest consequences of climate change, with a particular focus on its impact on freshwater resources. This chapter delves into the potential threats posed by climate change to the already stressed freshwater supplies in PIDCs.
The U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) are meteorologically characterized by tropical latitudes, consistently warm temperatures, high humidity, and frequent extreme weather events influenced by factors like the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and tropical cyclones. Climate change effects, including rising sea levels and temperature, are impacting these islands, potentially leading to more severe droughts and intense precipitation events, particularly affecting freshwater resources and local ecosystems.