With rising seas threatening the only home he’s ever known, President Christopher Loeak of the Republic of the Marshall Islands recently declared to the world, “2014 is Our Climate Moment.”

This year is already shaping up to be a pivotal moment here in Hawaii to address our own vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. Collectively witnessing the damaging effects of coastal erosion and beach loss across the state has sparked a greater sense of urgency. This is Hawaii’s climate moment to make important decisions for our future.

Our leaders agree that climate change is a priority issue. Gov. Neil Abercrombie highlighted climate change in his State of the State address, emphasizing that we cannot wait to act. The Senate-House majority package includes the Hawaii Climate Adaptation Initiative, which supports the science, planning and coordination we need to collectively prepare for the changes coming our way.  

These significant steps are building on the exciting momentum of 2013.

In September, our state was the first subnational government to join Loeak and other nations as a climate leader in the Majuro Declaration. The declaration recognizes Hawaii’s commitment to mitigation through our cutting-edge Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative and greenhouse gas reductions, as well as our efforts in developing the Hawaii Climate Change Adaptation Priority Guidelines.

In November, President Barack Obama appointed Abercrombie as one of eight governors to serve on the President’s Task Force for Climate Preparedness and Resilience. This is a tremendous opportunity for us in Hawaii to share our unique perspective and needs so the federal government can better support our local efforts.

At our first task force meeting this past December in Washington, D.C., we presented a special report,  “Navigating Change,” which was an overview of Hawaii’s approach to climate change adaptation. Many of the task force members shared stories of climate-related disasters that their communities had recently suffered. These stories from across the country remind us to do everything we can to be ready and resilient in Hawaii.

We also plan to convene “Resilient Hawaii” forums that will engage our communities in drafting a climate-change roadmap. One of these will be held during a free evening session of the Pacific Risk Management Ohana conference on March 12 at the Hawaii Convention Center.

I encourage all who are interested to participate. It will take all of us working together to strengthen our beloved Hawaii and communities in the face of climate change.

The new reports of projected impacts from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in addition to what we are already experiencing in Hawaii, are no doubt alarming. But I am optimistic that climate change can challenge us to be better. Our state is now in an exceptional position to maximize local and global expertise and resources.

This is our year to act boldly, with climate change as our catalyst, to build a stronger, more sustainable Hawaii.