STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1039

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 61

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 61 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING THE STATE'S COMMITMENT TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND PRIORITIZE CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to reaffirm the State's commitment to combat climate change and prioritize climate change legislation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Americans for Democratic Action; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Climate Protectors Hawaii; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Planning and Life of the Land.

Your Committee finds that climate change and sea level rise are not only real phenomena but are also two of the most preeminent challenges of the twenty-first century and are pivotal issues for the State. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has projected up to 3.2 feet of global sea level rise by the end of this century, which could cause up to $19,000,000,000 in damage. Your Committee also finds that the State shall continue its commitment to set ambitious goals for carbon sequestration, decreased greenhouse gas emissions, and decreased dependence on imported fuels, as the State seeks to obtain one hundred percent of its electricity by 2045 from renewable sources. Your Committee further recognizes the importance of climate literacy and ecological restoration to promote increased public awareness of the climate crisis and the affirmative effort to restore native plants and animals in their local habitats.

Therefore, due to the ecological, economical, health, and security threats posed by the climate crisis, your Committee believes it is necessary to reaffirm its commitment to combat the climate crisis and prioritize climate change legislation that reduces greenhouse gas emissions as laid out in the framework of the 2016 Paris Climate Accord.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying previously prioritized climate change adaptation actions codified through section 226-109, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as part of the Hawaii State Planning Act;

(2) Revising the referenced amounts for the final approved fiscal year 2020-2021 budget of the Department of Land and Natural Resources; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 61, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 61, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair