STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1600
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.C.R. No. 188
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 188 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION DECLARING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND REQUESTING STATEWIDE COORDINATION TO IDENTIFY, PLAN FOR, AND CREATE CROSS-SECTOR SOLUTIONS TO STRENGTHEN HAWAII'S PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Climate Change and Health Working Group; Greenpeace Hawaii; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Coalition Earth; 350Hawaii.org; and six individuals.
Your Committee finds that the climate crisis is one of the greatest threats to human health worldwide. Your Committee further finds that climate change has led to an increase in heat-related illnesses, respiratory health issues associated with the increase in wildfires, and other serious health and mental health related issues. This measure acknowledges the severity of the impact of the climate crisis on public health and initiates a collaborative statewide approach to support the public health response to climate change.
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 H.C.R. No. 188 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Health.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,
|
|
|
____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair |
|
|
|
|