STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2402
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 2344
S.D. 1
Honorable Donna Mercado Kim
President of the Senate
Twenty-Seventh State Legislature
Regular Session of 2014
State of Hawaii
Madam:
Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2344 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to:
(1) Address climate change adaptation by establishing an Interagency Climate Council, headed by the Sustainability Coordinator, with the task of implementing a general state policy to address climate change through 2050; and
(2) Require the Sustainability Coordinator to create initial reports identifying expected climate impacts;
(3) Require the Office of Planning to establish and implement strategic climate adaptation plans and policy recommendations based on the reports by the Sustainability Coordinator; and
(4) Appropriate funds to assist the Sustainability Coordinator and Interagency Climate Council.
Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Health; State Sustainability Coordinator; Office of Planning; University of Hawaii; Nature Conservancy; Democratic Party of Hawaii; Life of the Land; Disaster Resilience, LLC; and two individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Building Industry Association of Hawaii, Windward Ahupua‘a Alliance, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and two individuals.
Your Committees find that climate change is the paramount challenge of this century, posing both an urgent and long-term threat to the State's economy, sustainability, security, and way of life. Rising sea levels will increase coastal flooding and erosion, damaging coastal ecosystems and infrastructure and affecting agriculture, tourism, military bases, and other industries. Threats to the traditional lifestyles of indigenous communities may include destruction of coastal artifacts and structures and reduced availability of traditional food sources and subsistence fisheries, which will make it difficult for Pacific Island communities to sustain their connection with a defined place and their unique set of customs, beliefs, and languages.
Your Committees further find that beach erosion, drought, and rising temperature are already having measurable impacts on Hawaii and are expected to accelerate in the years to come. With beaches continuing to erode, rain continuing to diminish, and sea levels projected to rise one foot by 2050 and three feet by 2100, Hawaii is highly vulnerable. The State needs to adapt to the effects of climate change, particularly sea level rise, before they grow beyond our ability to prevent the worst impacts on our economy, environment, and way of life.
Your Committees have amended this measure by:
(1) Deleting language that would have established the Interagency Climate Council;
(2) Inserting language to establish an Interagency Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Committee within the Department of Land and Natural Resources;
(3) Inserting language to require the Interagency Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Committee to submit a sea level rise vulnerability and adaptation report for Hawaii through the year 2050 by December 31, 2017;
(4) Inserting language to specify additional members of the Interagency Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Committee;
(5) Inserting language related to the formulation of the sea level rise vulnerability and adaptation report;
(6) Inserting language to require the Interagency Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Committee to reevaluate the sea level rise vulnerability and adaptation report every five years;
(7) Amending the Office of Planning's duties to require the Office to conduct plans and studies and prepare reports to:
(A) Develop, monitor, and evaluate strategic climate adaptation plans and actionable policy recommendations addressing expected statewide climate change impacts;
(B) Provide planning and policy guidance and assistance to state and county agencies regarding climate change; and
(C) Publish its findings, recommendations, and progress reports on actions taken no later than December 31, 2017, and its annual report to the Governor and Legislature;
(8) Amending the appropriation to the Office of Planning by changing the appropriation amount to $58,874, for one full-time equivalent (FTE) position and resources to carry out the purposes of this measure;
(9) Inserting an appropriation to provide the Department of Land and Natural Resources with staffing, including one full-time equivalent (FTE) position, and resources to carry out the purposes of this measure;
(10) Amending language that would have appropriated funds to the Office of the Governor to appropriate $400,000 to assist the Department of Land and Natural Resources in researching and developing a coordinated, multidisciplinary sea level rise vulnerability and adaptation report;
(11) Amending language that would have appropriated funds to the Office of the Governor to appropriate $50,000 to the Office of Planning to carry out its duties pursuant to this measure; and
(12) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2344, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2344, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Water and Land,
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____________________________ MALAMA SOLOMON, Chair |
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____________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair |
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