As climate change and extreme weather increasingly affect communities across the U.S., people making decisions in government and various sectors need easy-to-understand climate information. This is especially true in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands, where many scientific reports don’t fully reflect local realities.

For over ten years, the Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment (PIRCA) has worked with partners in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands to fill that gap. PIRCA brings together local leaders, researchers, and community members to share knowledge and co-create climate information that fits local needs. Their reports and gatherings have helped shape new policy and plans, secure funding, and improve disaster response training.

Now, PIRCA is updating its work to keep pace with fast-changing conditions and respond to requests from local partners. With Palau’s National Office of Climate Change, PIRCA is testing tools to provide more detailed, timely, and locally relevant climate data. This work shows how long-term collaboration and respect for local context can produce useful climate information and help communities prepare for the future.