Hawaii-2012-HB2483-Amended

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that according to the Hawaii Climate Change Action Plan, published in November 1998 by the department of business, economic development, and tourism's energy, resources, and technology division and the department of health's clean air branch, major climate change effects expected for Hawaii include warmer temperatures; increases in heat-related deaths and illnesses; sea-level rise with resultant flooding, beach erosion, and damage to coastal property; increased vulnerability to storm damage; greater variance in water resources; undetermined effects on agriculture and forestry; and stresses on ecosystems.

The 1998 report is consistent with current climate science. According to recent findings by researchers at the University of Hawaii, global warming is evident in Hawaii. Air temperature has risen, rain intensity has increased while total rainfall has decreased, stream flows have decreased, sea level and sea surface temperatures have increased, and the ocean is becoming more acidic. Because these trends are likely to continue and scientists anticipate growing impacts to Hawaii's water resources and forests, coastal communities, and marine ecology, it is timely to consider adaptation and mitigation strategies. There is a significant and compelling need for sustained and enhanced climate monitoring and assessment activities as well as focused research to produce models of future climate changes and impacts.

Hawaii's existing climate change policy focuses primarily on mitigation through the reduction of greenhouse gases. Act 234, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, established the State's policy framework and requirements to address Hawaii's greenhouse gas emissions, recognizing the potential adverse effects of global climate change to Hawaii's economy, public health, natural resources, and environment. The focus and general purpose of Act 234 was to achieve cost-effective greenhouse gas emissions reductions at or below Hawaii's greenhouse gas emissions estimates of 1990 by January 1, 2020. Subsequently, the legislature passed Act 73, Session Laws of Hawaii 2010. Act 73 established the barrel tax, which also addresses issues relating to the effects of climate change. The purpose of Act 73 was to help ensure Hawaii's energy and food self-sufficiency and to plan for and implement measures to help Hawaii's natural resources and population adapt and be resilient to the inevitable challenges brought on by climate change caused by carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels.

However, even if greenhouse gases emissions are reduced to 1990 levels, global climate change will still significantly impact Hawaii well into the future. Therefore, this Act focuses on preparing for and adapting to the anticipated impacts of climate change. The purpose of this Act is to encourage collaboration and cooperation among county, state, and federal agencies, policy makers, businesses, and other community partners to plan for the impacts of climate change and avoid, minimize, or mitigate loss of life, land, and property of future generations.

In the course of implementing the legislatively mandated ocean resources management plan, the multi-stakeholder ocean resources management plan policy group and working group recognized a need for policy guidance to frame and effectuate a coordinated effort to adapt to the expected impacts of climate change. The ocean resources management plan working group partnered with the center for island climate adaptation and policy at the University of Hawaii to develop A Framework for Climate Change Adaptation in Hawaii, in November 2009. The desired outcome of the process outlined in the Framework is for Hawaii to adapt successfully to the impacts of climate change.

In August 2011, the ocean resources management plan policy group and working group along with other stakeholders from academia, business, and native Hawaiian communities, met for a two-day intensive workshop to implement the first steps of the Framework, including the development of an effective measure of Hawaii's adaptation to the impacts of climate change. The results of the workshop and input from the broader community are the foundation of this Act.

This Act amends the Hawaii State Planning Act, chapter 226, Hawaii Revised Statutes, by adding a climate change adaptation priority guideline to part III. Priority guidelines focus state and county resources on major areas of statewide concern that merit priority attention to improve the quality of life for Hawaii's present and future population through the pursuit of desirable courses of action. The priority guideline codified by this Act will serve as a guiding policy for adapting to the expected impacts of climate change through the existing implementation provisions of the Hawaii State Planning Act, which include guiding all major state and county activities, programs, budgetary, land use and other decision making processes, and county general plans and development plans, pursuant to part II of the Hawaii State Planning Act.

SECTION 2. Chapter 226, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part III to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§226- Climate change adaptation priority guidelines. (a) Priority guidelines to prepare the State to address the impacts of climate change, including impacts to agriculture; conservation lands; coastal and near shore marine areas; natural and cultural resources; education; energy; higher education; health; historic preservation; water resources; built environment such as housing, recreation, and transportation; and the economy:

(1) Ensure that Hawaii's people are educated, informed, and aware of the impacts climate change may have on Hawaii's communities;

(2) Encourage community stewardship groups and local stakeholders to participate in planning and implementation of climate change policies;

(3) Invest in continued monitoring and research of Hawaii's climate and the impacts of climate change on the State;

(4) Consider native Hawaiian traditional knowledge and practices in planning for the impacts of climate change;

(5) Encourage the preservation and restoration of natural landscape features, including coral reefs, beaches and dunes, forests, streams, floodplains, and wetlands that have the inherent capacity to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the impacts of climate change;

(6) Explore adaptation strategies that moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities in response to actual or expected climate change impacts to the natural and built environments;

(7) Promote sector resilience in areas such as water, roads, airports, and public health by encouraging the identification of climate change threats, assessment of potential consequences, and evaluation of adaptation options;

(8) Foster cross-jurisdictional collaboration among county, state, and federal agencies and partnerships among government and private entities including nonprofit entities;

(9) Use management and implementation approaches that encourage the continual collection, evaluation, and integration of new information and strategies into new and existing practices, policies, and plans; and

(10) Encourage planning and management of the natural and built environments to effectively integrate climate change policy."

SECTION 3. Section 226-102, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§226-102 Overall direction. The State shall strive to improve the quality of life for Hawaii's present and future population through the pursuit of desirable courses of action in [~~six~~] seven major areas of statewide concern which merit priority attention: economic development, population growth and land resource management, affordable housing, crime and criminal justice, quality education, [~~and~~] principles of sustainability[.], and climate change adaptation."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2483
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII