Report Title:

Climate Change; Reduction in Greenhouse Gases

Description:

Creates in DOH: (1) global climate change coordination council; and (2) scientific and technical advisory committee. Requires council to recommend steps to reduce Hawaii's 1994 emissions levels of greenhouse gases by 25% by 2009 and by 50% by 2034.

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

512

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to climate change.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Chapter

CLIMATE CHANGE REDUCTION ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons, and nitrous oxide gases have risen dramatically since the start of the industrial revolution, one hundred fifty years ago. These gases are the so-called "greenhouse gases" because they contribute to global warming. Their principal sources are fossil fuels, deforestation, foams, aerosols, refrigerants, solvents, wetlands, rice, livestock, and fertilizers. Carbon dioxide is the most prevalent greenhouse gas; it has increased by twenty-five per cent and accounts for approximately fifty per cent of the global warming effect of total greenhouse gas emissions. Methane has increased by one hundred per cent and contributes approximately eighteen per cent of the greenhouse effect. Chlorofluorocarbons are increasing five per cent per year and contribute approximately fifteen per cent of the global warming effect. Nitrous oxide has increased by ten per cent and accounts for approximately six per cent of the global warming effect.

World scientists predict that these increased concentrations of greenhouse gases will raise the earth's mean temperature over the next century by about four degrees Fahrenheit and that such climatic alterations will have dramatic, if not catastrophic, effects on weather patterns, worldwide agricultural productivity, natural ecosystems, and human society particularly in coastal cities due to rising sea levels.

Past greenhouse gas emissions have already committed the world to a future rise in global temperature. The longer emissions continue at current rates, the greater the risk that this rise will be unacceptably large and rapid. The national energy policy plan projects that the nation's generation of carbon dioxide will increase from 1985 levels by thirty-eight per cent by the year 2010. For example, in 1988, New York state emitted 232,000,000 tons of carbon dioxide, and it is projected that, under a business as usual scenario, carbon emissions in New York state would increase 24,000,000 tons by the year 2008. If no action is taken to restrain emissions, the earth's temperature will soar over the next century to perhaps the highest levels in a million years.

Consequently, it is imperative to limit emissions of the main greenhouse gases immediately. However, in the absence of either international or national coordinated policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it remains incumbent upon individual states to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases. Actions taken by individual states to reduce the generation of greenhouse gases will lead the federal government to adopt a coordinated national policy and to join with members of the international community that have already indicated a willingness to endorse reduction targets for carbon dioxide emissions.

The legislature further finds that reductions in the emissions of the major greenhouse gases may be achievable at reasonable costs. For example, in 1989, the New York state energy plan recommended that New York examine actions that should be taken to achieve a twenty per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by the year 2008; and the New York state energy office later reported that such reductions could be achieved at approximately a zero net cost per ton of carbon.

While the New York energy plan biennial update in 1991 recommended that New York stabilize total greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels by the year 2000, other scientific reports and the federal environmental protection agency indicate that far greater reductions are necessary to achieve climate stabilization. Therefore, the legislature further finds that all states, including Hawaii, should strive to achieve the greatest reductions possible of total greenhouse gas emissions to the extent that the states' economies are not harmed. These targeted goals are to reduce 1990 levels of total greenhouse gas emissions by twenty-five per cent by the year 2005 and by fifty per cent by the year 2030.

In order to achieve these goals, it is imperative that coordinated action within the State take place to advance policies and programs that will maximize energy efficiency and achieve at least a fifty per cent reliance on clean, renewable energy sources and technologies by the year 2030. The legislature further finds that greater energy efficiency and greater reliance on renewable energy sources and technologies will save consumers and industry millions of dollars in fuel over the next forty years.

SECTION 2. Global climate change coordination council. (a) To ensure that the State pursues all available opportunities to reduce the gases that produce the greenhouse effect and to adapt to any possible effects resulting from global climate change, there is created the global climate change coordination council, which is placed administratively within the department of health. The responsibilities of this coordination council shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) Coordination of all state agencies, public benefit corporations and public authorities, programs, activities, policies, institutions, departments, and persons associated with state strategies or plans to reduce or adapt to global climate change;

(2) Development of recommendations to be delivered to the legislature and governor, within one year of the effective date of this Act, to be updated annually, describing appropriate actions Hawaii should take to reduce greenhouse gases by twenty-five per cent of 1994 emissions level by the year 2009, and by fifty per cent of 1994 emissions level by the year 2034, and preparations that should be made to adapt to the effects of global climate change. If the coordination council finds that such goals are unachievable or would result in economic harm to the State's economy, then the coordination council shall report back to the legislature with revised reduction goals and an analysis that can substantiate why such revised goals are warranted. These recommendations shall include, but not be limited to:

(A) A set of timeframes and deadlines, including specific strategies for the reduction and stabilization of greenhouse gases, describing when and how the appropriate state entities should implement the recommendations;

(B) Methods for increased energy efficiency, the transfer to clean, renewable energy sources and technologies, reduction in the use of fossil fuels and reduction in deforestation; and

(C) A risk assessment of the effects of global warming in Hawaii and an estimate of the cost of mitigating any such risks;

(3) Development of cooperative interstate relationships and agreements to address global climate change including joint mass transit projects;

(4) Comprehensive research and analysis on global warming, utilizing existing data and materials produced by the advisory council;

(5) Serving as the contact for regional, national, or international global climate change activities or initiatives and serving as an information clearinghouse for such activities.

(b) The members of the coordination council shall be appointed pursuant to section 26-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and shall be composed of representatives from appropriate government, private sector, and citizen groups, including:

(1) The governor or governor's designee.

(2) The chairperson of the senate energy, environment, and international affairs committee and the chairperson of the energy and environmental protection committee of the house of representatives;

(3) The directors or their designees of the following state entities:

(A) Department of business, economic development, and tourism;

(B) Department of transportation;

(C) Department of agriculture;

(D) Department of health; and

(E) Public utilities commission.

(4) One representative from each of the following interests, to be appointed by the governor:

(A) An environmental advocacy group;

(B) The commercial utility industry; and

(C) Oil and gas refiners and distributors; and

(5) Two representatives of the public at-large to be appointed by the governor.

The governor shall designate the chair of the coordination council.

(c) The coordination council shall develop procedures to conduct its business to carry out the purposes of this chapter and shall meet at least once each month.

SECTION 3. Scientific and technical advisory committee. (a) There is created the scientific and technical advisory committee to be placed within the department of health for administrative purposes and composed of recognized professionals in various scientific fields and disciplines who may provide expertise and insights to the various aspects of global climate changes, including:

(1) An atmospheric scientist or climatologist;

(2) An ecologist;

(3) An environmental engineer;

(4) An environmental economist;

(5) A medical professional;

(6) An agronomist;

(7) A hydrologist;

(8) An energy specialist;

(9) A land use planner; and

(10) A transportation planner.

(b) The scientific and technical advisory committee shall provide advice to the coordination council on the latest scientific and technical research related to global climate change.

(c) The chairperson of the coordination council, in consultation with the council, shall nominate for the governor's appointment the chairperson of the advisory committee.

(d) The members of the coordination council and the scientific and technical advisory committee shall not receive compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties.

SECTION 4. Federal liaison. To ensure that the State's global climate change reduction activities are coordinated with federal policies, the coordination council shall invite federal agencies with responsibility for managing those policies to designate a liaison to the coordination council to attend coordination council meetings, respond to information requests, and review coordination council materials.

SECTION 5. Public involvement and information. (a) The coordination council shall involve citizens and interested groups and organizations in development of Hawaii's global climate change reduction strategies. The coordination council shall:

(1) Conduct at least two public workshops to solicit ideas, opinions, and facts to be considered in development of the recommendations;

(2) Distribute the proposed recommendations to all public libraries statewide and, upon request, to all interested individuals, groups, and organizations; and

(3) Conduct at least one public hearing on the draft recommendations prior to submittal to the legislature and the governor.

(b) The coordination council, in conjunction with educational institutions, shall conduct public information programs and prepare and disseminate publications.

SECTION 6. Activities of state government. All state agencies listed pursuant to section    -2(b) are directed to actively participate in the global climate change coordination council. These agencies are further directed to carry out their policies, programs, and responsibilities so as to achieve maximum reductions in the atmospheric concentrations of gases contributing to global warming. Following the issuance of the council's recommendations, each agency listed under section    -2(b)(3) shall review its programs and policies and issue a report to the legislature and the governor detailing plans to achieve the reductions recommended by the council. These reports shall be updated annually."

SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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