THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	99
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

ENGAGING, ENDORSING, ACCEPTING, AND ADOPTING THE AARHUS CONVENTION TO ACHIEVE THE UNITED NATIONS PARIS AGREEMENT, THE 2030 AGENDA, AND THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

 

 

     WHEREAS, Hawai‘i is recognized as a global partner and local leader in promoting human rights to create a culture of democracy, rule of law, and protection of the planet through its adoption of global and regional standards to guide decision-making processes; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawai‘i is guided by traditional Hawaiian values and emerging international human rights visions to generate good governance and ensure participation in policymaking and protection of our islands and the planet; and

 

     WHEREAS, in September 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the historic 2030 Development Agenda entitled "Transforming Our World:  The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development", a comprehensive, compassionate, creative, and courageous plan of action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity; and

 

     WHEREAS, in December 2015, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties agreed to the Paris Agreement, calling for the first time to limit future increases in the global average temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius; and

 

     WHEREAS, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) is an important instrument for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Aarhus Convention consists of numerous articles covering ideas and coordinating implementation including the following:

 

     (1)  Access to Environmental Information;

 

     (2)  Collection and Dissemination of Environmental Information;

 

     (3)  Public Participation in Decisions on Specific Activities;

 

     (4)  Public Participation Concerning Plans, Programmes and Policies Relating to the Environment;

 

     (5)  Public Participation During the Preparation of Executive Regulations and/or Generally Applicable Legally Binding Normative Instruments; and

 

     (6)  Access to Justice; and

 

     WHEREAS, the parties to the Aarhus Convention:

 

     (1)  Aimed to further accountability of and transparency in decision-making and to strengthen public support for decisions on the environment;

 

     (2)  Recognized that that the public needs to be aware of procedures for participation in environmental decision-making, have free access to the political process, and know how to exercise that access;

 

     (3)  Recognized the importance of respective roles for individual citizens, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector in environmental protection; and

 

     (4)  Desired to promote environmental education to further the understanding of the environment and sustainable development and to encourage widespread public awareness of and participation in decisions affecting the environment and sustainable development; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, that this body engages, endorses, accepts, and adopts the Aarhus Convention; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Congress of the United States is requested to embrace the Aarhus Convention and make protection of the environment and decision-making on environmental policies the centerpiece of national debate and practice; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, Vice President of the United States, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, Majority Leader of the United States Senate, Minority Leader of the United States Senate, Hawai‘i's congressional delegation, Governor, mayor of each county, Secretary General of the United Nations, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Chairs of Hawai‘i's Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission.

Report Title: 

Aarhus Convention; UN Paris Agreement; Universal Declaration of Human Rights