STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2816

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2676

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2676, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to codify the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal regarding life on land.

Specifically, this measure establishes various goals to be achieved by the year 2030, including:

(1) Protecting freshwater ecosystems;

(2) Promoting sustainable management of forests;

(3) Combating deforestation;

(4) Ensuring the protection of mountain ecosystems;

(5) Reducing the degradation of natural habitats;

(6) Taking action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna; and

(7) Implementing the State's biosecurity plan.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Office of Planning; Department of Agriculture; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Oahu Economic Development Board; The Nature Conservancy; Hawaii Green Growth; Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii; OCC Legislative Priorities Committee, Democratic Committee; 350.org; and sixteen individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Your Committee finds that codifying the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal will establish a framework for the State to effectively address key challenges. This measure also builds on Hawaii's adoption of goals aligned with the Paris Agreement, enacted by Act 32, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2676, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair