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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
56 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, climate change is an emergency that requires changes in Hawai‘i's energy, agriculture, mobility, water, construction, industrial sectors, and development infrastructure to promote the health and well-being of the ‘āina and kānaka; and
WHEREAS, the Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission reports that a climate-ready Hawai‘i looks to Hawai‘i's ahupua‘a concept, or the Hawaiian tenure system, because of the effective management of watersheds and agricultural lands, the protection of environmental and community health, and connecting communities with kuleana, or responsibility, to land and ocean environments; and
WHEREAS, a circular economy models the transition of economic activities to be regenerative, equitable, resource efficient, and sustainable, yet still competitive, by closing loops within economic models; and
WHEREAS, a circular economy focuses on the sustainable management of resources, specifically designing out waste and pollution, maintaining the value of existing products and materials, and regenerating natural systems; and
WHEREAS, a circular economy changes the way we produce, assemble, sell, and use products and resources to minimize waste and reduce our environmental impact, and also values resource productivity, supports innovative solutions for resource efficiency, creates new job opportunities, and fosters behavior change through education and engagement; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of circular economy principles is gaining momentum among governments, businesses, and non-profit organizations in places such as Australia, China, Denmark, and Germany, and most notably, the European Commission adopted a new Circular Economy Action Plan in March 2020; and
WHEREAS, there has been a massive growth in innovative, market-based technology solutions and business models that can support Hawai‘i's transition toward a circular economy; and
WHEREAS, a transition toward a circular economy will help address climate change and provide long-term economic, social, and environmental benefits for Hawai‘i; and
WHEREAS, there is a resurgence in demand for Hawai‘i to reshape its economy to eliminate the overdependence on extractive industries; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of a circular economy in Hawai‘i would model traditional Hawaiian values, including the core value of aloha ‘āina; and
WHEREAS, aloha ‘āina represents a deep and abiding love for Hawai‘i's communities and natural environment, while placing ‘ike kūpuna, or native Hawaiian ancestral knowledge, as the foundation upon which collective action is determined to achieve pono, or balanced, management of our resources and community health; and
WHEREAS, aloha ‘āina promotes an abundant economic system that establishes inherently circular processes and structures such as lo‘i kalo and loko i‘a, which continue to be utilized by Hawaiian communities today; and
WHEREAS, a statewide survey found that Hawai‘i residents support growing green economic industries such as food production, forestry, and natural resource management, and express community interest in economic transition toward more sustainable initiatives; and
WHEREAS, over two thousand seven hundred individuals, businesses, and organizations have expressed their support and commitment for the State to adopt aloha ‘āina principles through the ‘Āina Aloha Economic Futures Declaration; and
WHEREAS, the principles of a circular economy would also help advance multiple initiatives, including those created by the Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Taskforce, Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative, Hawai‘i 2050 Sustainability Plan, and Aloha+ Challenge; and
WHEREAS, Hawai‘i is a leader in climate change and renewable energy goals and has the potential to model an economy rooted in centuries of island-based values, such as sustainable practices, environmental health, and community well-being; and
WHEREAS, with the adoption of circular economy goals that are practiced internationally in partnership with aloha ‘āina principles, Hawai‘i is poised to become a global leader in the transition toward a circular economy grounded in indigenous values; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Governor is requested to convene and participate in the Hawai‘i Circular Economy Task Force that supports Hawaii's transition toward a circular economy by 2035; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any recommendations made by the task force achieve the following objectives:
(1) Consideration of circular economy values in decision-making in all economic transition efforts across government operations, including service delivery, infrastructure, purchasing decisions, and regulatory frameworks;
(2) Incorporation of circular economy principles in future policy and regulatory actions;
(3) Restoration of ‘āina and communities in a manner that elevates local self-sufficiency;
(4) Supporting efficient processing and reduction of waste streams across economic sectors to produce regenerative impacts on Hawai‘i's ‘āina and resources; and
(5) Consideration of utilizing the ‘Āina Aloha Economic Futures Assessment Tool for decision-making and allocations of resources unless inappropriate; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to include a designee from the following entities:
(1) The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism;
(2) The Department of Health;
(3) The Office of Planning;
(4) The Hawaii Technology Development Corporation;
(5) The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection;
(6) The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economic Development;
(7) The Senate Standing Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism;
(8) The City and County of Honolulu;
(9) County of Hawai‘i;
(10) County of Maui;
(11) County of Kaua‘i;
(12) Elemental Excelerator;
(13) ‘Āina Aloha Economic Futures;
(14) The University of Hawai‘i
at Manoa Hawai‘inuiākea
School of Hawaiian Knowledge; and
(15) The University of Hawai‘i
Office of Sustainability; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force may invite individuals from additional organizations or agencies to participate in the task force; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit a report of 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 2022; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Comptroller; Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture; Attorney General; Director of Finance; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Adjutant General; Chairperson of the Board of Education; Superintendent of Education; Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission; Director of Health; Director of Human Resources Development; Director of Human Services; Director of Labor and Industrial Relations; Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Director of Public Safety; Director of Taxation; Director of Transportation; President of the University of Hawai‘i System; Administrator of the State Procurement Office; State Sustainability Coordinator; Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; Mayor of the County of Maui; Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i; Mayor of the County of Kaua‘i; Chairperson of the Honolulu City Council, who in turn is requested to provide a copy to each neighborhood board chairperson in the City and County of Honolulu; Chairperson of the Maui County Council; Chairperson of the Hawai‘i County Council; Chairperson of the Kaua‘i County Council; Executive Secretary of the Neighborhood Commission Office of the City and County of Honolulu; and the principal collaborative authors of the ‘Āina Aloha Economic Futures Declaration.
Circular Economy; ‘Āina Aloha Economic Futures; Task Force