Bill Text: HI SCR244 | 2022 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Engaging, Endorsing, Accepting, And Adopting The Aarhus Convention To Achieve The United Nations Paris Agreement, 2030 Agenda For Sustainable Development, And Universal Declaration Of Human Rights.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-04-18 - Report adopted. referred to the committee(s) on JHA as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) McDermott voting no (1) and Representative(s) Ohno, Woodson excused (2). [SCR244 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-SCR244-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
244 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
ENGAGING, ENDORSING, ACCEPTING, AND ADOPTING THE AARHUS CONVENTION TO ACHIEVE THE UNITED NATIONS PARIS AGREEMENT, 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, AND UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
WHEREAS, Hawai‘i is recognized as a global partner and local leader in promoting human rights to create a culture of democracy, rule of law, and protection of the planet through its adoption of global and regional standards to guide decision-making processes; and
WHEREAS, Hawai‘i is guided by traditional Hawaiian values and emerging international human rights visions to generate good governance and ensure participation in policymaking and protection of our islands and the planet; and
WHEREAS, in September 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the historic 2030 Development Agenda entitled, "Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development", a comprehensive, compassionate, creative, and courageous plan of action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity; and
WHEREAS, in December 2015, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties agreed to the Paris Agreement, calling for the first time to limit future increases in the global average temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius; and
WHEREAS, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) is an important instrument for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and 2030 Development Agenda; and
WHEREAS, the Aarhus Convention consists of numerous articles covering ideas and coordinating implementation, including the following:
(1) Access to environmental information;
(2) Collection and dissemination of environmental information;
(3) Public participation in decisions on specific activities;
(4) Public participation concerning plans, programmes and policies relating to the environment;
(5) Public participation during the preparation of executive regulations and generally applicable legally binding normative instruments; and
(6) Access to justice; and
WHEREAS, the parties to the Aarhus Convention:
(1) Aimed to further accountability of and transparency in decision-making and to strengthen public support for decisions on the environment;
(2) Recognized that the public needs to be aware of procedures for participation in environmental decision-making, have free access to the political process, and know how to exercise that participation and access;
(3) Recognized the importance of respective roles for individual citizens, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector in environmental protection; and
(4) Desired to promote environmental education to further the understanding of the environment and sustainable development and to encourage widespread public awareness of and participation in decisions affecting the environment and sustainable development; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, the House of Representatives concurring, that this body engages, endorses, accepts, and adopts the Aarhus Convention to achieve the United Nations Paris Agreement, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Congress of the United States is urged to embrace the Aarhus Convention and make protection of the environment and decision-making on environmental policies the centerpiece of national debate and practice; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Secretary General of the United Nations, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, President of the United States, Vice President of the United States, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, Majority Leader of the United States Senate, Minority Leader of the United States Senate, members of the Hawai‘i congressional delegation, Governor, Co-Chairs of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, and mayor of each county.
Aarhus Convention; United Nations; Paris Agreement; 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; Universal Declaration of Human Rights
