HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	441
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO CLIMATE EQUITY.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that climate change has dynamic, interrelated impacts on the Hawaiian islands that require interdisciplinary solutions.  However, climate action is often inefficiently and ineffectively siloed.  The legislature also finds that because the impacts of climate change prompt and transform ways of conceptualizing human impacts and responses, planning for and adapting to these impacts requires society-wide interventions.

     The legislature further finds that it is crucial to make these interventions in the State through greater understanding of vulnerable populations and climate change-induced vulnerabilities.  These interventions require contextually relevant and applicable data and tools that are specific to Hawaii.  Understanding the social dimensions of vulnerability to climate change, including adaptive capacity to climate change; available data that represent climate change exposure, vulnerability, and adaptive capacity; and the ability to relay the information in an accessible and dynamic framework, have remained challenges.  The May 2022 report, "Social Vulnerability to Climate Change in Hawai‘i – Data, Indicators, and 'Gap' Assessment", to the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission identified data gaps that relate to a range of social vulnerability tools and climate change exposures.

     The purpose of this Act is to help communities and county, state, and federal agencies better understand the social impacts of climate change in the State by appropriating funds for the development of a database and data portal from data sources detailed in the report "Social Vulnerability to Climate Change in Hawai‘i – Data, Indicators, and 'Gap' Assessment" and accompanying guide; and for the maintenance and updating of the data portal.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the following sums:

     (1)  $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 for the development of a database and data portal from data sources detailed in the report "Social Vulnerability to Climate Change in Hawai‘i – Data, Indicators, and 'Gap' Assessment" and accompanying guide; provided that the development of the database shall be coordinated with relevant stakeholders, including those involved in the existing hazard mitigation framework; and

     (2)  $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the maintenance and updating of the data portal.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on June 30, 3000.

 

 

 

Report Title:

Climate Equity; Social Vulnerability to Climate Change; Database; Data Portal; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for the development of a database and data portal from data sources detailed in the May 2022 report on social vulnerability to climate change in Hawaii, under certain conditions.  Appropriates funds for the maintenance and updating of the data portal.  Effective 6/30/3000.  (HD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.