They’re seeking more input this month from communities across Oahu before they finish the plan.

Honolulu city officials this week released a draft of their latest plan to deal with the impacts of climate change, and the island’s residents will be able to provide their input on that draft during a series of events this month.

Once it’s finished, the Climate Ready Oahu plan will represent the city’s first climate adaptation strategy, according to the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency.

Large netted bags containing some black stone-like material along Kamehameha Highway in Hauula to protect the highway from rising tides.
Large netted bags containing some black stone-like material along Kamehameha Highway in Hauula to protect the highway from rising tides. (Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2018)

To be sure, that office has already helped draft several other key plans in recent years to help Oahu cope with climate change, including the Ola Oahu Resiliency plan in 2019 and the One Climate: One Oahu climate action plan in 2021.

However, Climate Ready Oahu represents the most comprehensive plan yet, according to Matthew Gonser, the city’s chief resilience officer. It lays out the risks that climate change poses and, with community input, it details steps to address those risks, he said in an email.

Residents can weigh in on the adaptation plan at 15 farmers markets, open houses and virtual meetings held across the island from Nov. 2 through Nov. 18, according to a press release.

To see the schedule of those events or learn how to register for the three virtual meetings, visit here.

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