STAND. COM. REP. NO. 741

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 559

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 559 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to further the State's commitment to combating climate change by systematically reducing and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions through the enactment of principles that mirror certain provisions adopted in 2015 at the 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in an agreement addressing greenhouse gas emission, adaptation, and finance, known as the Paris Agreement.

 

     More specifically, the measure:

 

     (1)  Requires the State to undertake strategies and mechanisms to reduce and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions;

 

     (2)  Requires the Department of Accounting and General Services to provide all state departments and agencies with information necessary for clarity, transparency, and understanding in order for each entity to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions;

 

     (3)  Encourages the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of state government to implement and support policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through environmental protection;

 

     (4)  Requires the State to promote sustainable development and ensure environmental integrity and transparency;

 

     (5)  Declares that the State recognizes the importance of integrated, holistic, and balanced non-market approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions;

 

     (6)  Establishes a statewide goal of adaptation and reduction of vulnerability to climate change;

 

     (7)  Requires all state departments and agencies to strengthen their cooperation with other parties on enhancing adaptation;

 

     (8)  Requires the Department of Accounting and General Services to engage in adaptation planning processes and to submit annual adaptation reports;

 

     (9)  Specifies areas of cooperation and facilitation that the State shall support;

 

    (10) Requires the State to hold a long-term vision on the importance of fully realizing technology development and transfer to improve resilience to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions;

 

    (11) Requires the submission of informational reports; and

 

    (12) Appropriates an unspecified sum of money for administering strategies and mechanisms to reduce and mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions of state departments and agencies.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Healthy Climate Communities, The Maritime Group, LLC, The Nature Conservancy, and fourteen individuals.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services and the Office of Planning.

 

     Your Committee finds that the State should support the goals of the Paris Agreement to combat climate change and its effects on environments, economies, and communities around the world.  One hundred ninety-five countries adopted the Paris Agreement at the 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to address greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation, and finance starting in the year 2020.

 

     Your Committee further finds that requiring state agencies to submit an annual report to the Legislature regarding the State's actions and capabilities and resources to implement the goals of the Paris Agreement would help the State prioritize necessary actions to reduce and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that information required by the measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services shall be provided in the form of an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature;

 

     (2)  Requiring that the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Accounting and General Services jointly submit a report including specified information regarding the State's actions and capabilities and resources to implement the goals of the Paris Agreement to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2018;

 

     (3)  Changing the effective date to March 9, 2092, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

     (4)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of clarity.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 559, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 559, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair