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REPORT OF E <br /> COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE,WATER, <br /> ENERGY,AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT <br /> DATE: October 1, 2019 Re: Comm.No. 494/Res.No. 322-19 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Kailua-Kana, Hawaii <br /> TIME: 1:32 p.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Agriculture, Water, Energy, and Environmental Management (AWEEM),to <br /> which was referred Resolution No. 322-19,reports as follows: <br /> Resolution No. 322-19,transmitted by Council Member Poindexter via Communication No. 494 <br /> dated September 13, 2019, declares a Hawaii County climate emergency and requests regional <br /> collaboration towards an immediate just transition and emergency mobilization efforts to restore <br /> a safe climate. <br /> Upon conclusion of the vast public testimony on this resolution, a motion for an amendment to <br /> Resolution 322-19 was put forth with the contents of Communication 494.1, as submitted by <br /> Council Member Poindexter and passed by Council. With Council Members echoing each other <br /> on the importance of declaring an emergency for the implementation of various measures <br /> regarding climate change, and agreeing with the overall intent of the resolution with <br /> amendments, different climate change thoughts were addressed, i.e. the need for a resiliency plan <br /> and/or a Resiliency Office or position for the County of Hawaii, whether the County of Hawaii <br /> has the necessary funds to address this substantial area of concern involving multi-agencies <br /> relating to climate change, whether there is community participation and buy-in, and the noted <br /> fact that there are both large and small scale measures currently in place within the County of <br /> Hawaii, addressing and implementing the aver-arching climate change mission. All noted that <br /> more can be done. <br /> Additionally, County Planning Department Director Michael Yee addressed the Council on this <br /> resolution as one of twenty sitting members of the Hawaii Climate Change Adaptation and <br /> Mitigation Commission, who regularly has meetings on Oahu. He shared that this specific body <br /> has existed in different forms for many years with numerous studies addressed over time. Mr. <br /> Yee noted that basically it is about government creating policies that will move things forward <br /> and realizing the need for resources to make and implement those policy changes. He also stated <br /> that the County cannot think or work in silos any longer; the time is now as climate change is <br /> here. However, it is notable that there are years of work ahead and likely elaborate funding <br /> needed to both adapt to and continually working towards addressing successful measures to <br /> reduce climate change here in the County of Hawaii. <br /> AWEEMC Report No.: 9 <br />