HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	34
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the department of health with the assistance of the department of business, economic development, and tourism to prepare a comprehensive clean air plan.

     WHEREAS, a major cause of global warming is said to be caused by energy reflected from the earth's surface and absorbed and trapped by carbon dioxide emissions produced by burning fossil fuels; and

     WHEREAS, global warming is believed to significantly alter global weather patterns and cause potentially catastrophic effects on coastal areas; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii would be directly affected by the worsening of global warming, if it results in rising sea levels, changes in the frequency and strength of storms, climate variability, and loss of biodiversity, as anticipated; and

     WHEREAS, to reduce the potential for the adverse effects of global warming, the Legislature adopted House Concurrent Resolution No. 305 (2006) supporting the provisions of the Kyoto Protocol, which sets seven percent of 1990 levels as the reduction goal for the United States, and which the United States failed to join; and

     WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii realizes its place, potential, and effect in the global environment; and

     WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii now seeks to take a more active role in reducing its statewide greenhouse gas emissions which ultimately contribute to the global atmosphere; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the Senate concurring, that the "Inventory of Hawaii Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimates for 1990" prepared by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, and the Department of Health in July 1997, is hereby adopted as the estimated statewide greenhouse gas emissions estimates for 1990; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health, with the assistance of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, is requested to prepare a Hawaii Comprehensive Clean Air Plan; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Comprehensive Clean Air Plan present statewide measures to reduce the statewide greenhouse gas emissions to seven percent below the estimated greenhouse gas emissions for 1990, the level called for in the Kyoto Protocol for the United States; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in preparing the Hawaii Comprehensive Clean Air Plan, the Department of Health and the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism consider the suitability of implementing measures adopted in other states to meet reduction goals in Hawaii, taking into consideration the geographic, economic, cultural, and other unique characteristics of our state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Comprehensive Clean Air Plan include proposed legislation necessary to implement the plan; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Comprehensive Clean Air Plan ultimately strive to make the greenhouse gas emissions level of the state of Hawaii the lowest per capita amount in the nation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Comprehensive Clean Air Plan shall be submitted to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Department of Health and the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

DOH and DBEDT requested to prepare statewide plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by