STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2056-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.C.R. No. 243

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 243 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENGAGING, ENDORSING, ACCEPTING, AND ADOPTING THE NEW YORK DECLARATION ON FORESTS TO ACHIEVE THE UNITED NATIONS PARIS AGREEMENT AND THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT; SPECIFICALLY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 15, LIFE ON LAND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to engage, endorse, accept, and adopt the New York Declaration on Forests to achieve the United Nations Paris Agreement and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically Sustainable Development Goal 15, Life on Land.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, and Hawai‘i Institute for Human Rights.

Your Committee finds that the State's forests play a pivotal role in Hawaii's natural environment by providing watershed, soil, and habitat protection. While the State is already participating in global efforts to protect the planet and end poverty, the adoption of the New York Declaration on Forests can accelerate progress with new partnerships to achieve the United Nations Paris Agreement and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending its title to make a technical, nonsubstantive amendment; and

(2) Making other technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 243, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 243, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair