NEWS

PI-CASC Regional Administrator Mari-Vaughn Johnson and University of Guam Lead Romina King were recently tapped to serve as the federal coordinating lead and chapter lead author, respectively, for the Sixth National Climate Assessment (NCA 6). In these roles, they will be guiding and facilitating a team of authors in compiling and synthesizing climate data in the Hawaiʻi and U.S affiliated Pacific Islands region.  

King is an associate professor of geography at UOG who also serves as the UOG lead for the PI-CASC and as associate director of the NASA Guam Space Grant program. She had previously participated in the creation of NCA 4 and NCA 5, as a technical contributor and chapter author, respectively.  

“I’m honored, thrilled, and slightly overwhelmed to be selected for this role. I look forward to engaging with the region’s scientists, managers, traditional knowledge holders, and practitioners to put together a geographically representative and holistic climate assessment based on the best available science for Hawaiʻi and U.S affiliated Pacific Islands,” King said.   

Following the release of NCA 5 in November 2023, King has presented and participated at various events in the region and in the continental U.S. to promote the report and encourage feedback. Through this engagement, the author team has been made aware of information gaps that can be addressed in the national report’s future iterations.  

“I hope we can address our islands’ data gaps identified in past climate assessments, especially in foundational observations and subsequent downscaled models, to refine our understanding of present and future climate change impacts in our region,” she said.  

Johnson will be reprising her role as the federal lead for the chapter. In the creation of NCA 5, she played a crucial role in synergizing and connecting the regional chapter with other chapters of the assessment.  

“Being involved with NCA 5 was a wonderful experience. The entire team was committed to elevating the needs in our region, grounding their assertions in science, and pointing out how our region is at the frontlines in terms of bearing the brunt of climate change impacts. It was an honor to be asked to serve as the federal lead author for NCA 6 and I look forward to growing a team and vision in partnership with Romina. There are so many outstanding needs in our region and there are so many inspiring stories of how our communities are coming together to use diverse knowledge systems and building partnerships towards the adaptation we must all embrace,” Johnson said. 

The National Climate Assessment is a government-mandated report on climate change impacts, risks, and responses that provides the scientific foundation to support informed decision-making across the United States. NCA 6 is expected to be finalized and released in late 2027. For more information on this report, visit the U.S. Global Change Research Program’s website.