THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	119
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

ENCOURAGING THE STATE TO BUILD A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS AND COLLABORATE ON SIMILAR, SHARED CHALLENGES AND GOALS.

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the State to cultivate meaningful relationships with countries and subnational governments to collaborate on solutions to shared challenges; and

WHEREAS, the Netherlands is a northwestern European country notable for its economic, cultural, and ecological contributions to world history; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii and the Netherlands are very similar in both challenges faced and shared values; and

WHEREAS, similar to Hawaii, the Netherlands is especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change; and

WHEREAS, with seventeen percent of its land having been reclaimed from bodies of water, the Netherlands is particularly threatened by sea level rise and flooding brought on by global warming; and

WHEREAS, throughout its history, the Netherlands has developed inventive land reclamation and flood mitigation strategies that could be used to defend the State from impending catastrophic sea level rise; and

WHEREAS, the Netherlands is renowned for its innovative and productive agricultural practices that could be useful to the State in promoting local farms; and

WHEREAS, the Netherlands has pioneered transportation solutions that have reduced costs, curbed emissions, and improved safety that could also be advantageous to the State given the current challenges to Hawaii's future; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii and the Netherlands are both members of the Local2030 Islands Network and are committed to the same sustainable development goals; and

WHEREAS, similar to Hawaii, the Netherlands is a center of cultural and commercial exchange; and

WHEREAS, as a result, Hawaii and the Netherlands both highly value social tolerance, gender equality, and the promotion of LGBTQ+ rights; and

WHEREAS, given the similarities between the State and the Netherlands, fostering a relationship with the Netherlands would be beneficial; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, that this body encourages the State to build a partnership with the Kingdom of the Netherlands and collaborate on the similar, shared challenges and goals; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Report Title:

Kingdom of the Netherlands; Partnership; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism