STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3501

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 129

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.R. No. 129 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS TO EXPAND BLUE CARBON INITIATIVES IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request:

(1) The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development convene a working group to develop recommendations to expand blue carbon initiatives in the State;

(2) The working group consider certain issues relevant for evaluating the potential of blue carbon projects to enhance the State's climate change mitigation and clean economy goals; and

(3) The working group submit a report of its findings and recommendations on blue carbon initiatives to the Legislature before the Regular Session of 2025.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Hawaii State Energy Office, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that certain marine and coastal ecosystems sequester carbon dioxide and that the conservation and restoration of these blue carbon ecosystems have been recognized as effective nature-based solutions for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. This measure seeks to maximize the benefits of local blue carbon initiatives to help the State meet its climate change mitigation and clean energy economy goals.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 129 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair