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CLIMATE SOLUTIONS SONAR: An Issue Brief Series

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Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI)

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June 2014

Constituency-specific information on how climate change impacts: Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI)

! Background !

! Constituency-specific ! climate change impact

AANHPIs are affected by climate change in multiple ways, owing to their (a) population concentration in coastal areas impacted by seawater intrusion, urban areas impacted by heat waves, and suburban areas impacted by wildfires, and (b) the high percentage of

immigrants in the population with significant ties to the Asia-Pacific region.

With the AANHPI population primarily in coastal areas, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands, some of the impacts unique to AANHPIs include:

sewage to flow into residential areas, posing risks to human health.1

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This brief shows that climate change has a significant financial and health impact on AANHPIs (See #5 below).

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This brief further shows that AANHPIs are some of the

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(1) In Hawaii, Guam, the Northern Marianas Islands, and American Samoa, higher sea levels, more powerful super typhoons, and more acidic coastal waters further stress human development, the local food supply, community health, and the safety of important infrastructure on the coast. 1

(3) In California, substantially higher temperatures, more extreme wildfires, longer dry seasons, severe drought, and rising sea levels are some of the direct impacts attributed, at least partially, to climate change. AANHPIs are directly impacted by these climaterelated effects as they are often concentrated in major urban and suburban areas of the state. 2

(2) In the Pacific Islands, heavy rainfall is projected to be more frequent, leading to more extreme flooding that could compromise the quality of the local water supply, reduce crop yields, and cause

(4) In San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, immigrant AANHPI communities have access barriers to common adaptation options, such as tree canopy for shade and car ownership for accessing

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most progressive of all racial and ethnic groups in California when it comes to key areas in climate policy, giving strong support for policies on energy efficiency, emission reduction land use, transportation, and renewable energy (See page 2).

public cooling centers, making them highly vulnerable during extreme heat waves. 2

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As a result of these, the most important nuanced impact of climate change on AANHPIs is tied to health and finances, as described below:

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(5) With up to 76% of AANHPIs as foreign-born, first-hand experience and family connections in their home countries strain their emotional health and financial resources every time there is a major climate-related disaster in the Pacific. AANHPIs remit money to their impacted families, and suffer from the emotional trauma of losing loved ones in extreme climate-related disasters. 3

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CLIMATE SOLUTIONS SONAR: An Issue Brief Series

Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) June 2014

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AANHPI position on key areas of climate policy

AANHPI environmentalism is among the strongest of all other racial and ethnic groups, according to a 2009 voter survey in California by the California League of Conservation Voters.

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In fact, the 2012 Climate Change Statewide Survey Report of the Public Policy Institute of California finds key areas in climate policy where AANHPIs are strongly in favor.

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On renewable energy — Whites (49%) are the most likely to support a law supporting, wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources, regardless of electricity costs, followed by AANHPIs (43%), Latinos (40%), and blacks (33%).

On requiring an increase in energy efficiency — AANHPIs (88%), followed by Latinos (78%), blacks (77%), and whites (73%), are the most likely to favor requiring an increase in energy efficiency for residential and commercial buildings, and appliances.

favor encouraging local governments to change land use and transportation planning in order for people to drive less.

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On emission reduction — AANHPIs (90%), followed by blacks (88%), and Latinos (87%), are the most likely to favor requiring industrial plants, oil refineries, and commercial facilities to reduce their emissions.

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On land use and transportation — AANHPIs (85%), followed by Latinos (84%), blacks (74%), and whites (71%), are most likely to

cypher CLIMATE SOLUTIONS SONAR: An Issue Brief Series Prepared by: R. Bong Vergara (CYPHER) Mari-Rose Taruc (APEN) Prepared for: US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Where can I find additional info about climate change?

Endnotes

CYPHER consults with a network of organizations on climate resilience and global health. These include:

(1) US Environmental Protection Agency (2014). Climate Impacts in the US Islands. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/islands.html

• Asian Pacific Environmental Network • California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA) • Communities for a Better Environment-YouthEJ • UCLA Center for Global & Immigrant Health

(2) California Natural Resources Center (2012). Our Changing Climate 2012 Vulnerability & Adaptation to the Increasing Risks from Climate Change in California. Retrieved from http://www.energy.ca.gov/2012publications/CEC-500-2012-007/CEC-500-2012-007.pdf (3) California League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (2009). Asian American Environmentalist: An Untapped Power for Change in California. Retrieved from http:// apen4ej.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/California-league-of-conservation-votersAsian-American-environmentalists-.pdf

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