VISION
A SAFE, HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE AND RESILIENT PUERTO RICO.
MISSION
Assess the state of Puerto Rico’s climate, using the best science and knowledge available, understand Puerto Rico’s social-ecological vulnerabilities and develop adaptation strategies to build a resilient society.
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20071st Round Table -
20092nd Round Table -
3rd Round Table
20103rd Round Table -
II Summit
2011II Summit -
III Summit
2012III Summit -
PR State of the Climate
2013PR State of the Climate -
IV Summit
2013IV Summit -
V Summit
2014V Summit -
VI Summit
2014VI Summit -
VII Summit
2016VII Summit -
VIII Summit
2017VIII Summit -
4th National Climate Assessment
20184th National Climate Assessment -
IX Summit
2018IX Summit -
X Summit
2019X Summit -
PR State of the Climate
2022PR State of the Climate -
XI Summit
2022XI Summit -
XII Summit: Science, Communities and Climate Justice
2023XII Summit: Science, Communities and Climate Justice
PRCCC BACKGROUND
In November 2010, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources through the Puerto Rico Coastal Zone Management Program initiated Puerto Rico’s third roundtable on climate changeClimate changeRefers to the long-term changes in the Earth’s climate that are warming the atmosphere, ocean and land. Climate change is affecting the balance of ecosystems that support life and biodiversity, and impacting health. It also causes more extreme weather events, such as more intense and/or frequent hurricanes, floods, heat waves,.... This initiative had roots on the 2007 and 2009 roundtables where experts from the scientific and academic community came together to share knowledge about the current state of Puerto Rico’s climate science. In addition to sharing knowledge, representatives from the media presented their views on climate changeClimate changeRefers to the long-term changes in the Earth’s climate that are warming the atmosphere, ocean and land. Climate change is affecting the balance of ecosystems that support life and biodiversity, and impacting health. It also causes more extreme weather events, such as more intense and/or frequent hurricanes, floods, heat waves,... and a dialogue was facilitated between them and the Puerto Rican scientific community. The main goal of these initial efforts were to identify gaps in communications between the two groups and begin devising a strategy for future work. The roundtable also was devoted to pitching the idea of a Puerto Rico coastal adaptation project and discussing, as a large group, the creation of a panel of experts to assess the effects of climate changeClimate changeRefers to the long-term changes in the Earth’s climate that are warming the atmosphere, ocean and land. Climate change is affecting the balance of ecosystems that support life and biodiversity, and impacting health. It also causes more extreme weather events, such as more intense and/or frequent hurricanes, floods, heat waves,... on Puerto Rico’s society and ecosystems. The idea was met with excitement and together the participants discussed processes and sectors to be assessed.
Between November 2010 and April 2011 critical partners were convened to initiate the discussion of the vision, mission, goals and objectives, as well as the name under which efforts were to be conducted. Partners determined that this voluntary association of scientists and other disciplines would be recognized as the Puerto Rico Climate Change CouncilPuerto Rico Climate Change CouncilCollaborative, multidisciplinary and voluntary effort that brings together professionals from federal, state, private sector, academia, planners, community members and communications experts, among others, who monitor and evaluate the risks, and possible impacts of climate change on society, economy and biodiversity, and offer recommendations to promote adaptation and resilience in Puerto... (PRCCCPuerto Rico Climate Change CouncilCollaborative, multidisciplinary and voluntary effort that brings together professionals from federal, state, private sector, academia, planners, community members and communications experts, among others, who monitor and evaluate the risks, and possible impacts of climate change on society, economy and biodiversity, and offer recommendations to promote adaptation and resilience in Puerto...). By researching previous efforts from around the world and especially other island communities, the PRCCCPuerto Rico Climate Change CouncilCollaborative, multidisciplinary and voluntary effort that brings together professionals from federal, state, private sector, academia, planners, community members and communications experts, among others, who monitor and evaluate the risks, and possible impacts of climate change on society, economy and biodiversity, and offer recommendations to promote adaptation and resilience in Puerto... together decided on a vision, a mission, objectives, guiding principles, and the sectors to be assessed.
The PRCCCPuerto Rico Climate Change CouncilCollaborative, multidisciplinary and voluntary effort that brings together professionals from federal, state, private sector, academia, planners, community members and communications experts, among others, who monitor and evaluate the risks, and possible impacts of climate change on society, economy and biodiversity, and offer recommendations to promote adaptation and resilience in Puerto... began collaboration to ensure a coordinated effort, using the best available science and the most recent geophysical and chemical scientific knowledge to assess climate change impactsClimate change impactsConsequences (positive or negative) of climate change on natural and human systems. on Puerto Rico’s ecology and biodiversity, and society and economy. This assessment resulted in the 2013 Puerto Rico State of Climate Report. After the publication of this report, the US Global Change Research Program trusted several members of the PRCCCPuerto Rico Climate Change CouncilCollaborative, multidisciplinary and voluntary effort that brings together professionals from federal, state, private sector, academia, planners, community members and communications experts, among others, who monitor and evaluate the risks, and possible impacts of climate change on society, economy and biodiversity, and offer recommendations to promote adaptation and resilience in Puerto... to develop the first stand-alone chapter of Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands to be published as part of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, the first dedicated chapter to these Caribbean islands.
The latest version of the Puerto RIco State of the Climate Report was published in 2022. The PRCCCPuerto Rico Climate Change CouncilCollaborative, multidisciplinary and voluntary effort that brings together professionals from federal, state, private sector, academia, planners, community members and communications experts, among others, who monitor and evaluate the risks, and possible impacts of climate change on society, economy and biodiversity, and offer recommendations to promote adaptation and resilience in Puerto... membership meets once a year at the PRCCCPuerto Rico Climate Change CouncilCollaborative, multidisciplinary and voluntary effort that brings together professionals from federal, state, private sector, academia, planners, community members and communications experts, among others, who monitor and evaluate the risks, and possible impacts of climate change on society, economy and biodiversity, and offer recommendations to promote adaptation and resilience in Puerto... Summit to present the latest climate science and share relevant information to support the decision making processes at the government, private sector and civil society.
Membership selection in the PRCCCPuerto Rico Climate Change CouncilCollaborative, multidisciplinary and voluntary effort that brings together professionals from federal, state, private sector, academia, planners, community members and communications experts, among others, who monitor and evaluate the risks, and possible impacts of climate change on society, economy and biodiversity, and offer recommendations to promote adaptation and resilience in Puerto... has been ongoing and as such the PRCCCPuerto Rico Climate Change CouncilCollaborative, multidisciplinary and voluntary effort that brings together professionals from federal, state, private sector, academia, planners, community members and communications experts, among others, who monitor and evaluate the risks, and possible impacts of climate change on society, economy and biodiversity, and offer recommendations to promote adaptation and resilience in Puerto... is constantly growing. The PRCCCPuerto Rico Climate Change CouncilCollaborative, multidisciplinary and voluntary effort that brings together professionals from federal, state, private sector, academia, planners, community members and communications experts, among others, who monitor and evaluate the risks, and possible impacts of climate change on society, economy and biodiversity, and offer recommendations to promote adaptation and resilience in Puerto... is comprised of over 140 partners representing researchers, planners, architects, practitioners, agency representatives and communications experts. Participants are selected based on expertise and recommendations from current participants.
Objectives
Our short and medium term goals promote compliance with the mission of the PRCCC
1. To use the best available scientific knowledge to identify the communities and ecosystems at-risk from coastal hazards and climate change.
2. To serve as a clearinghouse of climate information for researchers, planners, government officials, businesses, NGOs, and concerned citizens about Puerto Rico..
3. To identify, assess, and prioritize effective adaptation strategies and policies that could be implemented in Puerto Rico.
4. To provide opportunities and space for multi-stakeholder communication on the topic of climate vulnerability and adaptation.
Our 14 Guiding Principles
The PRCCCPuerto Rico Climate Change CouncilCollaborative, multidisciplinary and voluntary effort that brings together professionals from federal, state, private sector, academia, planners, community members and communications experts, among others, who monitor and evaluate the risks, and possible impacts of climate change on society, economy and biodiversity, and offer recommendations to promote adaptation and resilience in Puerto... collaborates using a set of 14 guiding principles to ensure a coordinated effort in assessing the risksRisksA combination of the probability of an event occurring and the frequency with which it occurs and the magnitude of its negative consequences. and impacts of coastal hazards and climate changeClimate changeRefers to the long-term changes in the Earth’s climate that are warming the atmosphere, ocean and land. Climate change is affecting the balance of ecosystems that support life and biodiversity, and impacting health. It also causes more extreme weather events, such as more intense and/or frequent hurricanes, floods, heat waves,... and recommending adaptation strategies to government, civil society and the private sector.
Climate change is happening
Understand that global climate variability and change is occurring (as asserted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the United States Global Change Research Program).
Assess trends and future scenarios
Assess trends and future scenarios
Ensure assessments of climate impacts on the time scale of present day, by mid century and end of the century.
Climate science is constantly evolving evolución
Understand that data (historical, current, and prospective) continues to be collected and that knowledge about climate change is still evolving.
Adaptation Implementation
Ensure that recommended adaptation strategies range from efforts that can be implemented in 1-5 years as well as by mid century and end of the century.
Foster collaboration
Identify and involve relevant and willing stakeholders in designing, reviewing, and refining the recommended adaptation strategies.
Community engagement
Include community-led and participatory approaches to adaptation when developing recommendations.
Adaptation solutions with co-benefits
Give priority to adaptation strategies and policies that initiate, foster, and enhance existing efforts that improve economic and social well-being, public safety and security, public health, environmental justice, species and habitat protection, and ecological function.
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Ensure that climate change adaptation strategies take into consideration the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and therefore do not further contribute to global issues.
Ridge to reef approach
Recognize that climate impacts go beyond the coastal zone, therefore watersheds and other non-coastal areas should be considered into assessments and strategies.
Maintaining healthy ecosystems
Ensure that our natural systems are resilient to likely changes. Maintaining healthy ecosystems is essential to our long-term success in meeting the PRCCC’s vision.Efforts to build resilience for Puerto Rico’s communities and people must go hand-in-hand with strategies that minimize both impacts to the environment and losses of ecosystem services upon which we depend.
Reducing stress on natural and human systems
Adaptation includes reducing existing stresses on natural and human systems. Assessments and recommendations should specify which current stressors are likely to be exacerbated by climate change impacts.
Enhance policies
When possible, give priority to adaptation strategies that modify and enhance existing policies rather than solutions that require new funding and new staffing.
Flexible adaptation policies
Understand the need for adaptation policies that are effective and flexible enough for circumstances that may not yet be fully predictable.
Prepare for incremental and acute impacts
Ensure that we prepare for both incremental and acute impacts. Some climate change effects are episodic and unpredictable, such as insect outbreaks or greater impacts on coastal areas from combined sea level rise and increased storm intensity. We must also prepare for simultaneous extremes such as heat waves and hurricanes. Puerto Rico’s adaptation efforts must work simultaneously to address slower-arriving impacts and those that are more immediate or acute.