STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1130

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 45

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 45 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO HOST A UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE IN HAWAII IN 2010,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the President of the United States to propose and encourage the United Nations to hold a United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCC Conference) in Hawaii in 2010.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one private organization.  Testimony in opposition to the measure was submitted by one individual.  Written testimony presented to your Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committees find that over a decade ago, most countries joined an international treaty--the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Convention)--to begin to consider what can be done to reduce global warming and to cope with whatever temperature increases are inevitable.  Smaller conferences are held throughout the year, culminating in a UNCC Conference in the last quarter of each year, such as the recent conference held in Poznan, Poland in December 2008.  During these UNCC Conferences, the parties to the Convention meet to address Convention issues regarding climate change, such as adaptation, finance, technology, reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and disaster management.  More of these Convention conferences are contemplated.

     Your Committees find that Hawaii is a logical place to hold such a conference in 2012.  Hawaii has the conference and visitor facilities necessary to easily accommodate an international conference of this size and magnitude.  Additionally, a UNCC Conference would provide economic stimulus to Hawaii.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Updating the references to the UNCC Conference locations; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for style and consistency purposes.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 45, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 45, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs,

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair

____________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair