STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1636

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.C.R. No. 87

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 87 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH AN ANNUAL CLIMATE WEEK IN ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE TO SPREAD CLIMATE AWARENESS, EDUCATION, AND PARTICIPATION IN SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Education to establish an annual Climate Week in all public schools across the State to spread climate awareness, education, and participation in sustainability initiatives.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Climate Change and Health Working Group; Coalition Earth; and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's youth are confronting a rapidly changing world due to the effects of climate change, which directly impacts the State through coastal erosion, rising sea levels, and more frequent and intense storms, and poses a serious risk to the Hawaii's native ecosystems and cultural practices. Your Committee further finds that the State's Climate Week does not include activities or initiatives at Department of Education schools, resulting in limited promotion of climate awareness among public school students. Your Committee believes that the establishment of annual Climate Week in all public schools in the State will increase student awareness, education, and participation in sustainability initiatives that combat climate change.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 87 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair