More than 3 million people live in Puerto Rico, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The territory saw many residents leave after hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the territory in 2017. The island's population decreased by 11.8% between the 2010 and 2020 census and the U.S. Census Bureau estimates this downward trend to continue. The USVI’s 2020 census population was approximately 87,000, representing a decrease of 18.1%.
Some aspects of the Northwest’s natural environment—wildlife, habitat, and outdoor recreation, for instance—are at risk in a changing climate. Communities that rely heavily on the natural environment for their culture and heritage are also at risk.
In general, frontline communities such as tribes, farmworkers, and low-income populations have higher exposures, are more sensitive, and are less able to adapt to climate change for a variety of reasons.
Infrastructure plays a critical role in keeping the Northwest’s economy running smoothly. Damage or failure in any category of infrastructure can disrupt normal operations in single community or result in consequences across the region. Isolated communities are among the most vulnerable to disruptions related to infrastructure.
The skyline of Portland, Oregon looking west from the Hawthorne Bridge. Photo by Eric Baetscher. Used via a Creative Commons license (CC BY-SA 2.5)
Sub-sample of image: 2007 drought at Lake Lanier, by Tom Wilson.
Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
