Bill Text: HI HB2487 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To A Hawaii Green New Deal.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-06 - The committee(s) on EEP/WLH recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [HB2487 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2020-HB2487-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2487 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to a hawaii green new deal.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that climate change is real and is the overriding challenge of the twenty‑first century. Thus, climate change is one of the priority issues of the legislature. Climate change poses immediate and long-term threats to the State's economy, sustainability, security, and way of life. Hawaii has a tradition of sustainable leadership, having prioritized policies regarding greenhouse gas emission reduction, conservation, economic resilience, environmental protection, and the use of alternative renewable energy. The legislature has passed numerous measures over the last decade to address climate change.
The legislature further finds that the human-induced global climate crisis requires bold, thoughtful responses on many fronts to ensure that resilient communities survive and thrive on the fragile islands of Hawaii. To maintain Hawaii's leadership in creating the future of labor, justice, and equity, the legislature finds that we must embrace aloha aina as the core organizing principal of our green new deal. We must urgently decarbonize Hawaii's systems of food, energy, and transportation. We must urgently sequester carbon throughout our systems of agriculture, waste management, and ecosystem restoration. Upon this solid foundation we will find synergies that expand access to health, housing, and education; create gratifying, well-paying jobs; and ensure justice and equity for Hawaii's citizens. This Act is a vital step forward to enable Hawaii to adapt to the inevitable changes that will accompany the climate crisis, by proactively mitigating its most deleterious impacts.
In July 2014, the State launched the Aloha+ challenge: He Nohona ‘Ae‘oia, A Culture of Sustainability, a statewide commitment to sustainability, with the leadership of the governor, four county mayors, office of Hawaiian affairs, legislature, and Hawaii green growth public-private partners across the State. The Aloha+ challenge builds on Hawaii's history of systems thinking, Hawaiian culture and values, and successful track record on sustainability to outline six ambitious goals to be achieved by 2030.
The legislature also finds that on December 12, 2015, one hundred ninety‑five countries at the twenty‑first Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change adopted an agreement addressing greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation, and finance starting in the year 2020, known as the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement was adopted on November 4, 2016, and is the largest concerted global effort to combat climate change to date. The legislature passed Act 32, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, to document the State of Hawaii's commitment to combat climate change by systematically reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving our resiliency to climate change aligned with the principles and contributing to the goals set by the Paris Agreement.
At the global level, the United Nations sustainable development goals and Paris Climate Agreement have been adopted to guide global efforts. In 2012, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development created the sustainable development goals, otherwise known as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in Rio de Janeiro. The goals came into effect in 2015, and are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. Dealing with the threat of climate change impacts how people manage the world's fragile natural resources.
In 2018, Governor David Ige issued Executive Order No. 18‑06 that directed all state agencies to implement practices to assist the State in achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals. Additionally, four counties have expressed support for the sustainable development goals.
In order for Hawaii to continue to serve as a leader for the rest of the world in setting policies on sustainability, it is essential that the State demonstrate its full commitment to its own polices and goals, as well as the goals set on the international stage at United Nations conferences and summits on sustainability.
The purpose of this Act is to direct the state sustainability coordinator and office of planning to conduct a study on implementing a "Green New Deal for Hawaii".
SECTION 2. (a) The State's sustainability coordinator of the office of planning shall complete a comprehensive study on implementing a green new deal for Hawaii.
(b) The green new deal study shall:
(1) Identify federal and international initiatives and policies for a green new deal, including any related costs and savings;
(2) Comprehensively review the State's economic resilience, efforts in environmental protection and growth, and protections for Hawaii's social and cultural equity;
(3) Determine and make detailed findings as to how the State can move forward to cost effectively take advantage of identified opportunities, including any related costs and savings to implement a Hawaii‑based green new deal strategy; and
(4) Identify any legal and regulatory changes necessary to implement the findings determined pursuant to paragraph (3).
(c) The state sustainability coordinator in the office of planning shall submit a progress report and a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2021, and regular session of 2022, respectively.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $600,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the state sustainability coordinator and office of planning to complete a comprehensive study on implementing a green new deal for Hawaii.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of planning for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Hawaii Green New Deal; Office of Planning; Sustainability Coordinator; Appropriation
Description:
Requires the sustainability coordinator of the office of planning to complete a study on implementing a green new deal for the State. Requires the study to identify federal and international polices; review Hawaii's environmental, economic, and cultural response to the green new deal; and determine cost-effective opportunities for Hawaii to implement the green new deal.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
