Hawaii-2020-SR132-Introduced

WHEREAS, Hawaii is already experiencing the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels, extreme tides, accelerated coastal erosion, and stronger, more frequent storms; and

WHEREAS, even with decisive actions to reduce greenhouse gas emission, many of the impacts of climate change are inescapable and must be addressed; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Climate Adaptation Initiative Act was enacted in 2014 with the purpose of protecting the State's economy, health, environment, and lifestyle, by considering how to best adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change; and

WHEREAS, in December 2017, the Hawaii Climate Change and Adaptation Commission produced the first Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report identified geographic areas that are susceptible to the impacts of sea level rise and urged immediate preparations for a 3.2-foot increase in the sea level by 2060; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report identified potential impacts of a 3.2-foot sea level rise to include the flooding of over 25,800 acres of land in the State rendering it unusable and over six thousand five hundred structures located near shorelines to be lost or compromised; and

WHEREAS, over thirty-eight miles of major roads across the State would be chronically flooded according to the Report, and many utilities such as water, wastewater, and electrical systems often run parallel or underneath roadways; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report also made a number of recommendations to state and county agencies, based on emerging practices, designed to strengthen Hawaii's overall readiness to face sea level rise and climate change; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, that the Office of Planning is requested to work with the Hawaii Climate Change and Adaptation Commission and Department of Transportation to create a plan to address the impacts of sea level rise on the State's transportation infrastructure; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Planning is requested to work with the Hawaii Climate Change and Adaptation Commission and Department of Transportation to:

(1) Address transportation infrastructure already impacted by sea level rise, including but not limited to highways, airports, and harbors;

(2) Identify other vulnerable associated public infrastructure;

(3) Create a comprehensive management plan for mitigating and adapting to sea level rise that includes:

(A) Potential highway realignments;

(B) Options for the Daniel K. Inouye Airport to strengthen the existing airport against sea level rise, including the possibility of purchasing Wheeler Field and exchanging the existing airport with Wheeler Field;

(D) Potential liability costs; and

(4) Provide policy recommendations to the Legislature on how and what funding is needed to move forward with concrete strategies to address the impacts of climate change on the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Planning is requested to submit a 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 2022; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Office of Planning, Director of Transportation, and Chairperson of the Hawaii Climate Change and Adaptation Commission.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Office of Planning; Sea Level Rise; Transportation Infrastructure; Report

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	132
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII