Environment

Abandonment of Soft Power, Neglect of Climate Change, and the Shifting Geopolitical Landscape of the Pacific

,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Gabriel Otis, a master’s candidate at George Washington University, emphasizes the weakening U.S. focus on the Pacific under President Trump, highlighted by reduced soft power and climate change neglect. This disengagement risks regional instability, opening opportunities for China, while urging a return to collaborative engagement to enhance security and partnerships in the Blue Pacific.

Militarism in the Micronesian Region: A Tragedy in Three Acts

,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Davis Rehuher, a PhD student at the University of Hawai’i, researches health issues in Micronesian communities, particularly regarding historic trauma from WWII and nuclear testing. The ongoing effects include health problems, cultural loss, and inadequate healthcare access for veterans, highlighting significant social justice concerns for the Micronesian people.

The Pressing Need for Resilient, Equitable, Safe, and Sustainable Decentralized Wastewater Solutions for the Pacific Islands

,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Islands around the world face unique water and wastewater management challenges that are made more complex and dynamic in a changing climate. In Hawaii, the task of converting more than 83,000 cesspools by 2050 will require collaborative and innovative approaches that will meet policy mandates; effectively address engineering challenges; empower communities and make them more resilient; and safeguard natural resources and local economies. With funding from the National Science Foundation, the authors are engaging in a four-pronged approach to develop and promote decentralized wastewater solutions that can be scaled across Hawaii and replicated in the unique contexts of islands in other regions.

Pacific Island Country Submissions to the International Court of Justice Climate Change Advisory Opinion Make History

,  ,  ,  , 

The Pacific region, in unprecedented numbers, submitted to the International Court of Justice advisory opinion proceedings on climate change. This case has the highest number of state participation in the Court’s history. The inclusion of Pacific visions and voices to the world’s court will help ensure climate justice arguments are not overridden by those that wish to maintain the status quo.