Climate Change Protection Bill Signed Into Law

Photo Courtesy of Governor's Office

The state has taken an important step forward towards protecting the public and addressing the impacts of climate change in Hawaii. Signed into law today by Governor Abercrombie, House Bill 1714 will address climate change adaptation in the state by establishing an interagency climate adaptation committee under the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to develop a sea level rise vulnerability and adaptation report that addresses sea level rise impacts statewide to 2050.

"We have a chance to change our future," said Representative Chris Lee (Kailua, Waimanalo) the bill’s introducer and Chair of the House Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection. "Planning ahead now will save billions of dollars for our next generation and it will make us secure, safe and give our next generation of children an opportunity to much of the same Hawaii that we have today.”

"I applaud my colleagues in the Legislature and the Governor for making it a priority to tackle the consequences of climate change on our islands. We have seen rising sea levels, erosion of our shoreline, and various other effects of global warming on the increase in the last year,” added Majority Policy Leader Representative Henry Aquino (Waipahu). “The Hawaii Climate Adaptation Initiative will help protect our economy and way of life for our next generation.”

House Bill 1714 was one of the measures included in the 2014 Joint Majority Legislative Package. The significance of a joint package is that the included bills are considered to have statewide importance and the commitment of the majorities of both chambers of the legislature.