STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1540

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 120

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.R. No. 120 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE STATE'S COLLABORATION WITH SISTER-STATES ON GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage the State's collaboration with sister-states on global environmental leadership.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that Act 97, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, set a goal for the State to achieve one hundred percent renewable energy by 2045; and Act 15, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, established a zero emissions clean economy target to sequester more carbon emissions than produced annually by 2045. Additionally, under other agreements such as the Under2 Coalition Memorandum of Understanding, the United States Climate Alliance, and the Paris Agreement, the State is further committed to its clean energy and sustainability goals. While other nations, including subnational governments, are working toward adopting similar goals and building clean economies, and now that global cooperation on environmental and climate issues has strengthened, additional work is necessary to achieve renewable energy and clean economy targets. This measure encourages the State to collaborate with sister-states and further international collaboration and global meetings by learning about innovative solutions for climate change, building a clean economy, and expanding environmental protections.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the Legislature passed Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 69, Regular Session of 2014, which endorses and supports the Aloha+ Challenge; and

(2) Specifying that Hawaii is committed to achieving sustainable development goals and is a member of the Local2030 Islands Network.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 120, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 120, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts,

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair