HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

179

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING DEVELOPMENT OF AN ACTION PLAN TO ASSESS AND REDUCE CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS.

 

WHEREAS, carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels contribute to global warming by absorbing and trapping energy reflected from the earth's surface; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii would be directly affected by any increase in global warming, as scientific evidence suggests outcomes of rising sea level, changes in the frequency and strength of storms, climate variability, and loss of biodiversity, among other things; and

WHEREAS, legislation was introduced in the 2002 legislative session to encourage the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by assessing fees on such emissions in excess of certain amounts; and

WHEREAS, the legislation would also have encouraged a wide range of affected companies to assess and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by upgrading or retiring plant equipment, using renewable energy sources, improving end-user energy efficiency through demand-side management programs, using cogeneration practices, offsetting carbon dioxide emissions by land-based sequestration, or applying other means that result in identifiable decreases in carbon dioxide emissions; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Health (DOH) is requested to develop an action plan to assess and reduce carbon dioxide emissions in consultation with other government agencies, members of the community, and environmental groups; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the action plan include:

(1) An assessment of the levels of carbon dioxide emissions in Hawaii and their effect on air quality throughout the State;

(2) An analysis of global warming's effects on Hawaii as forecasted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change;

(3) A review and assessment of the proposal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, as contained in S.B. No. 2771, introduced in the current legislative session;

(4) An overview of how such a program would work;

(5) The financial impact for the affected companies that would participate in the program, including a breakdown of how different sectors would be affected;

(6) The economic benefits statewide of such a program, considering both growth in the renewable energy industry, energy efficiency industry, forestry, and reduction of fossil fuel expenditures; and

(7) Types of projects to reduce carbon dioxide emissions that could be funded through this legislation;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOH submit the action plan no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health.

Report Title:

Carbon dioxide emissions; DOH requested to develop an action plan to assess and reduce emissions and report to 2003 Legislature. (HCR179 HD1)