Abstract

Climate changes are already affecting some aspects of society, the economy and natural ecosystems of Puerto Rico and these effects are expected to increase. Not all of these changes will be gradual. When certain tipping points are crossed, impacts can increase dramatically. Past climate is no longer a reliable guide to the future. This affects planning for public and private infrastructure, tourism and industry, water resources, energy and all other social and economic systems.

In response to these changes, the Puerto Rico Climate Change Council (PRCCC) was convened in November 2010 to assess Puerto Rico’s vulnerabilities and recommend strategies to respond to changes. The PRCCC is comprised of four working groups: (WG1) Geophysical and Chemical Scientific Knowledge; (WG2) Ecology and Biodiversity; (WG3) Society and Economy; and (WG4) Communicating Climate Change and Coastal Hazards. Based on the results of PRCCC’s WG1, WG2 and WG3 as well as the results of coastal hazards risk assessment workshops conducted with thirty of the forty-four coastal municipalities, the PRCCC concludes that Puerto Rico's climate is changing and coastal communities of Puerto Rico, critical infrastructure, wildlife and ecosystems are all vulnerable to various impacts associated with changes in global, regional, and island weather and oceanographic conditions.