THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

192

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the department of transportation to conduct a study evaluating THE IMPACT OF SEA LEVEL RISE ON STATE harbor operations.

 

 


     WHEREAS, climate change and sea level rise are two of the most preeminent challenges of the twenty-first century and are pivotal issues for the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, recognizing that shorelines are one of the State's most dynamic and important cultural and economic resources, the Legislature in 2017 created the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission (Commission) and tasked the Commission, as a first step, to focus on sea level rise and develop a report identifying vulnerabilities and recommending adaptations; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Commission submitted the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report in December 2017, which identified, at tax map key detail, areas that are susceptible to sea level rise impacts based on the 3.2 feet of sea level rise projected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report warned that the projected sea level rise would have a significant impact on infrastructure in Hawaii such as harbor facilities, which are located in low-lying coastal areas of the State and face the problem of chronic flooding; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report also noted that a more detailed economic loss analysis is needed of Hawaii's critical infrastructure, including harbors; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, that the Department of Transportation is requested to conduct a strategic statewide study evaluating the effects of sea level rise on statewide harbor operations and pier heights; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to consider the potential structural and economic damage to statewide harbor operations, costs to prevent or mitigate that damage, financing options, and any other issues relevant to preserving harbor facilities; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2021; and

 

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

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Sea Level Rise; Harbor Operations; Harbors; Climate Change