Environmental Changes In Hawaii Essay

Hawaii’s number one business and economy is being threatened and global warming is to blame. If climate change is not taken more seriously, Hawaii could risk losing its beaches, homes, hotels, businesses, and worsened living conditions. Even worse, the tourism industry could be greatly impacted in a negative way. This begs the question: how can we reduce the effects of global warming and prevent future damage?

As hurricanes Harvey and Irma have been headlining newspapers and media sources, everyone can see the impact climate change is having on natural disasters. If Hawaii were to be in the path of a geological disaster, the islands would be completely devastated. According to the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), “Anthropogenic warming by the end of the 21st century will likely cause tropical cyclones globally to be more intense on average...” This explains how global warming will intensify future storms if they were to make landfall on Hawaii. Hurricanes are known to gain strength over warmer waters, which could prove to be a problem as sea surface temperatures rise. Global warming

In a study paid for by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), “Climate Change Impacts in Hawaii: A Summary of Climate Change And Its Impacts To Hawaii’s Ecosystems And Communities”, Hawaii’s ecosystems and population are at risk. Higher average temperatures pose a threat to native animals and plants. The unique ecosystem could be in peril due to the higher concentration of invasive species and native species in distress. In addition to loss of native species, Hawaii’s population could be in danger. Heat-related illnesses in people could become more prevalent. Dengue fever and cholera are a couple of examples of these illnesses. In an illness-riddled environment and the loss of nature, why would tourists be motivated to visit the islands? Tourism could all but