Climate change in Puerto Rico
[3] Climate change also affects Puerto Rico's population, the economy, human health, and the number of people forced to migrate.
[5] Local initiatives are working toward mitigation and adaptation goals, and international aid programs support reconstruction after extreme weather events and encourage disaster planning.
Petroleum products supply 63% of Puerto Rico's electricity generating capacity; 23% comes from natural gas, 8% from coal, and 6% from renewable energy sources, specifically from solar, wind, hydropower, and biomass.
Studies in San Juan have shown[vague] the UHI effect is permanent due to urban expansion and it leads to a temperature increase of over 4C (7.2 F) compared to surrounding rural areas.
[3] The rate of sea level rise (SLR) in Puerto Rico has been measured at 1.7 mm a year based on historical records from tidal gauges since 1900, which is consistent with global trends.
[3] Puerto Rico experiences similar trends to the rest of the world, with decreasing average pH and carbonate saturation state.
[3] As of 2023[update], the rate of decline for aragonite saturation states in Puerto Rico is 3% per decade and is expected to continue with ongoing emissions.
[3] The lack of protection from the reefs leads to an increased risk of damage by winter swells, resulting in coastal erosion and sediment displacement.
[2] Climate change is expected to have synergistic effects on ecosystems and species in Puerto Rico, meaning systems that are already under stress will be exposed to additional stressors, exceeding their adaptive capacity.
[19] With the introduction of economically important crops and deforestation for pasture and charcoal production, Puerto Rico's forests have dramatically changed over the past two centuries.
[19] In Puerto Rico and in the wider Caribbean, palustrine and estuarine ecosystems are very vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to the relationship between hydrology, and wetland structure and function.
More intense and frequent storms due to climate change are predicted to damage this habitat; seagrass cover declined after Hurricane Maria in 2017.
The seagrass beds have the ability to recover from these storms and some climate change effects such as increased nutrient supply after rainfall events, and higher CO₂ concentrations can benefit the habitat.
[25] Climate change causes stress on coral habitats through factors such as rising sea temperatures, sudden reductions of salinity, increased chemical toxins, and solar irradiance.
[1] According to the study, warming and drying trends are projected to accelerate after 2040; this may lead to the loss of up to 84% of highly suitable growing conditions in top-producing municipalities by 2070.
Although value-added markets present opportunities to revive the industry, regional climate change trends may threaten the production of high-quality coffee.
[1] Climate change in Puerto Rico hinders the territory's gross national income (GMI) growth and threatens the tourism industry, which is an important economic driver.
[18] Climate-related risks such as water scarcity, coastal erosion, loss of marine biodiversity, warmer summers, extreme weather events, and an increase in disease outbreaks can substantially affect tourism and the wider economy.
[18] Puerto Rico's warm marine environment supports the occurrence of some water-related illnesses, such as vibriosis and ciguatera poisoning, which can increase with higher ocean temperatures that promote the growth of these bacteria and algae.
The resilience of healthcare facilities can be increased by installing backup generators, improving building codes, developing emergency response plans, and reducing carbon footprints by implementing energy-efficient practices and using renewable energy sources.
Although scientists are not certain this intensification reflects a long-term trend, hurricane wind speeds and rainfall rates are expected to increase as the climate continues to warm.
This poses a significant threat to Puerto Rico's housing infrastructure, as cities, roads, and ports that are vulnerable to damage from wind and water.
Inland flooding is likely to increase as heavy rainstorms become more frequent and intense, resulting in significant property damage and displacement of affected communities.
The impact of climate change on agriculture and food security could also lead to displacement as people are forced to migrate to find better opportunities.
[3] In order to preserve Puerto Rico's cultural heritage, its vulnerability must be assessed so that management plans can be created that include strategies to increase resilience and adaptability.
A useful tool for the protection of cultural heritage sites is community participation, that is the use of citizen science to monitor areas and provide feedback on their significance.
[18] Puerto Rico recognizes the shared responsibility to reduce emissions and develops mitigation plans and regulations on national and multinational levels.
The publication of the first Puerto Rico State of the Climate report in 2013 spurred engagement in climate-change adaptation and mitigation strategies on environmental, social, and economic issues.
This includes starting greenhouse gas accounting and requests the acceptance of a Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation and Resilience Plan organized by sectors, and defines reduction targets.
Objectives include: In January 2024, Governor Pedro Pierluisi signed into law a bill, which was unanimously passed by both chambers of the Puerto Rican legislature, that preserves and extends the commonwealth's retail net metering policy until at least 2030.
