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Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Climate Adaptation Actions to Integrated Climate Action Plan for the Island of Hawal'i Build Local Resilience to Climate Change *��►�� Increasing ground, air, and marine transportation for commercial, industrial, and residential activity emits increasing greenhouse gases. Transportation is a key facet of residential, commercial, and industrial activity. Transportation is the largest source of emissions for Hawaii County, with a total of 1,742,191 MTCO2e released per year. In Hawaii, transportation emissions are generated from ground, air, and marine transportation. Ground transportation contributes 16.8 percent of emissions annually on Hawaii Island.37 Ground transportation includes individual and public vehicles used by residents and visitors for all purposes from daily life to construction, trucking, and agriculture. The visitor industry adds to the use of cars on the island. Because of the size and rural nature of our island, visitors often rent cars and drive to "hot spot" attractions around the island.38 With increasing population and commercial activity, ground transportation emissions increased 17.31 percent from 2015 to 2017 and are expected to continue to increase.39 More people will be commuting and recreating, and more businesses will need to transport goods around the island to service them. On Hawaii Island, 71.4 percent of workers rely on individual modes of transportation. In Hawaii, the cost of gas is higher than any state except Alaska and is almost double the cost of states with the cheapest gas. The Ulupono Initiative estimates that the public costs of the vehicle economy, including roadway and bridge maintenance and public transportation, are around $15,000 per taxpayer with an additional $8,100 annual cost per vehicle. Therefore, 71.4 percent of workers are paying at least $8,100 per year to cover their transportation needs before taxes.40 Forty-eight percent of people on Hawaii Island are living below the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold.41 The annual cost of vehicle ownership is 33 percent of the annual total income of an ALICE-qualified single adult households. Airline transportation emissions are the dominant source of transportation emissions, accounting for 54 percent of total annual emissions. Airline emissions include all flights that originate from Hawaii Island. Airline travel is an essential part of residential, commercial, and visitor industry activity on island. Interisland commutes are a standard part of many industries, including construction. Airlines are also an essential means of importing goods to the island. Increasing population and commercial activity augment the need for flights and imported goods, so airline emissions are expected to increase. 37 County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development(2021). Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory for 2017.County of Hawai`i.https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/304504/637834584810900000 38 Hawaii Tourism Authority(2021). "Hawai`i Island Destination Management Action Plan." https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/7040/hta-hawaii-island-action-plan.pdf 39 County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development. (2021). Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory for 2017.County of Hawai'i.https://www.hawaiicountV.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/304504/637834584810900000 40 Ulupono Initiative. (2022). The Costs of the Vehicle Economy in Hawaii. https://ulupono.com/project-list/the-costs-of-the-vehicle- economy-in-hawaii/ 41 ALICE Threshold,2007-2018.American Community Survey,2007-2018. Climate Cascade 1:Greenhouse Gas Emissions 22