STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3800

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 108

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Government Operations and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 108 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION AFFIRMING HAWAI‘I'S ONGOING COMMITMENT TO THE GOALS OF THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT, THE UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND ENDORSEMENT OF THE FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Affirm the State's ongoing commitment to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets as called for by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change;

(2) Pledge to meet the State's proportionate greenhouse gas reductions under the Paris Climate Agreement;

(3) Request the State and each county to formally endorse the call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty; and

(4) Urge the U.S. government to support the initiative for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawai‘i Institute for Human Rights, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, 350Hawaii.org, Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association, and three individuals.

Your Committees recognize the scientific consensus that human activities are primarily responsible for accelerating global climate change, and that the climate crisis represents one of the preeminent threats to global civilization. Changes in the State's climate are already being felt, as evidenced by rising sea levels, coastal inundation, ocean warming as well as coral bleaching, heightened risk of wild fires, and increasing severe storms.

Your Committees further find that the Paris Climate Agreement and Glasgow Climate Pact made important progress in the fight against climate change. But more is needed. Your Committees note that a new global initiative is underway calling for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, which would end new fossil fuel exploration and expansion, phase-out existing production in line with the global commitment to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and accelerate equitable transition plans.

Accordingly, this measure encourages rapid and equitable action to combat the climate crisis by urging the nation, State, and counties of Hawaii to endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and continue efforts to accelerate the transition to clean energy.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Government Operations and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 108, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 108, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Government Operations and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI, Chair