Report Title:
Environmental Quality; Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Description:
Requires the department of health to conduct a greenhouse gas emissions inventory of Hawaii sources and update the 1997 report prepared by the department of business, economic development, and tourism and the department of health entitled "Inventory of Hawaii Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimates for 1990"; requires reports to the 2008 and 2009 legislature. Appropriates funds for two positions to update the assessment. Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii at Manoa to develop plan to mitigate greenhouse emissions. (SD2)
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1612 |
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TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to greenhouse gas emissions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that global warming poses a serious threat to the economic well-being, public health, natural resources, and natural environment of Hawaii. The potential adverse impacts of global warming include the exacerbation of air quality problems, a rise in sea levels resulting in the displacement of businesses and residences and the inundation of Hawaii's freshwater aquifers, damage to marine ecosystems and the natural environment, extended drought and loss of soil moisture, an increase in the incidence of infectious diseases, and an increase in the severity of storms and extreme weather events.
On February 2, 2007, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released their fourth assessment of the predicted impacts of global climate change. The panel predicted temperature rises of up to 11.5 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100, and a sea level rise of up to twenty-three inches, with an additional 7.8 inches possible if current melting of the Greenland and Antarctica ice sheets continues.
Global warming will have detrimental effects on some of Hawaii's largest industries, including tourism, agriculture, recreational and commercial fishing, and forestry. Global warming will also increase the strain on electricity supplies necessary to meet the demand for air conditioning during the hottest times of the year.
The purpose of this Act is to update data on the effects of global warming in Hawaii, in order to develop appropriate state responses to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
SECTION 2. The department of health shall conduct a thorough greenhouse gas emissions inventory of Hawaii sources and shall update the past report prepared by the department of business, economic development, and tourism and the department of health entitled "Inventory of Hawaii Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimates for 1990", dated July 1997.
The department of health shall submit the inventory and the updated report, as well as any additional information as deemed appropriate, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the regular sessions of 2008 and 2009.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the environmental response revolving fund established in chapter 128D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for carrying out the purposes of this Act, including the hiring of two positions to update the assessment.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, for the Hawaii energy policy forum of the University of Hawaii at Manoa to convene stakeholders to develop a coherent plan with a timetable for implementation to reduce greenhouse emissions in Hawaii, using the principles embodied in S.B. No. 1612, SD1 (2007); provided that the Hawaii energy policy forum shall report on findings and recommendations to the legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2008.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii energy policy forum of the University of Hawaii at Manoa for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.