Trouble in paradise? More like death, devastation, and disaster in paradise. The world watched in horror over the past weeks as Hawaii, which lives in our collective minds' eye as a lush jungle sanctuary, lit up like a tinderbox. Entire cities were burned to ash. The death toll is now approaching 100 people.
There isn't a single answer for why this happened; assigning blame is never that simple. However, the specter that has hung over many of our extreme weather events of late almost certainly had a role to play - climate change.
Rainfall monitoring over the past 30+ years at select sites in Hawaii is down 30% in the rainy season, and 6% in the dry season. Temperatures are up by almost 1 degree Celsius over the last year, further drying out vegetation. Invasive grass species have sprung up around the islands; many of these are less fire-resistant and more prone to wildfires in general. These changes don't even touch on non-climate-related but still environmental-related issues, such as ongoing environmental degradation by human development, encroaching on Hawaii's wild spaces and native species.
The world lives in a delicate balance and no location is insulated from the effects of a warming planet. Now, more than ever, our world needs you to use your actions and voice to make a difference.
