President Barack Obama has appointed Gov. Neil Abercrombie to serve on the president’s Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience, the White House said today.

It will be co-chaired by heads of the federal Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and White House Council on Environmental Quality. The task force includes other governors, mayors and other leaders “who will develop recommendations on how the federal government can better support local preparedness and resilience-building efforts,” according to a press release.

“As the only island state in nation, Hawaii is unquestionably vulnerable to changes in climate such as rising temperatures, droughts, flooding, sea level rise, coastal erosion and ocean acidification,” said Abercrombie.

Meanwhile, Abercrombie has just appointed Jacqueline Kozak Thiel the state’s sustainability coordinator. Thiel will coordinate across departments and with counties, federal agencies and community partners to support Hawaii’s sustainability goals. 

Photo: Gov. Neil Abercrombie, State Sustainability Coordinator Jacqueline Kozak Thiel, Office of Planning Director Jesse Souki and Board of Land and Natural Resources Chairperson William J. Aila Jr. (Courtesy)

—Chad Blair