HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 458 Draft 01 2020-2022A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING HAWAI‘I COUNTY’S ENDORSEMENT OF A FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY TO AVERT CATASTROPHIC CLIMATE CHANGE DISRUPTIONS.
WHEREAS, the scientific consensus is clear that human activities are primarily responsible for accelerating the global climate change emergency that represents a preeminent threat to
global civilization; and
WHEREAS, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported in 2018 that we must achieve “net zero” greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions before 2050 in order to limit global warming
to 1.5 degrees Celsius; and
WHEREAS, our community is being impacted by the health and safety risks of fossil fuel expansion, particularly those who also face socioeconomic and health inequities, including indigineous
peoples, low-income families, those experiencing homelessness, and seniors; and
WHEREAS, people with health conditions caused or exacerbated by pollution from fossil fuel extraction, transportation, or use are dying at a higher rate from COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, our youth and generations to come are in danger due to a lack of equitable action to halt fossil fuel expansion, which causes major and lifelong health, ecological, social,
and economic impacts from prolonged and cumulative effects of climate change, which include food and water shortages, infectious diseases, and natural disasters; and
WHEREAS, the Paris Climate Agreement is silent on coal, oil, and gas, an omission with respect to the supply and production of fossil fuels, which is the largest source of GHGs and needs
to be collectively addressed by other means; and
WHEREAS, in May 2022, the Hawai‘i State Legislature adopted a resolution calling for the State of Hawai‘i and all counties to endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, which
would provide an international mechanism to advance a fast and fair phase out of fossil fuel production in line with both the Paris Agreement and United National Sustainable Development
Goals; and
WHEREAS, the 2021 Production Gap Report created by leading research organizations such as the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), International Institute for Sustainable Development,
Overseas Development Institute, CICERO Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research, and Climate Analytics estimates that global governments and fossil fuel industries
will produce approximately 120% more emissions by 2030 than necessary to limit warming to 1.5°C and avert catastrophic climate disruption; and
WHEREAS, the construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure and reliance on fossil fuels exposes communities to untenable risks to public health and safety at local and global levels;
and
WHEREAS, the economic opportunities presented by a clean energy transition far outweigh the opportunities presented by an economy supported by expanding fossil fuel use and extraction;
and
WHEREAS, aggressive goals should be set for a resilient future that will tackle the climate emergency with accelerated targets through a lens of equity, to strengthen our economy and
our middle class, and set Hawai‘i County on a course to be carbon neutral well before 2050; and
WHEREAS, it is the responsibility and moral obligation of governments, non-government organizations, and the business community to lead towards ending fossil fuel development and to
manage the decline of existing production; and
WHEREAS, beyond an international Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, tangible actions must be taken by the Mayor and people of the County of Hawaiʻi to equitably decarbonize the economy;
now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I that with the concurrence of the Mayor, the County of Hawai‘i endorses the call for and urges the United States to enter into a
Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and make such non-proliferation the centerpiece of its national security policy.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County of Hawai‘i affirms its commitment to exceed the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and the greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets as called
for by the IPCC to keep global warming well below 1.5°C.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall submit a copy of this resolution to the Honorable President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Honorable Governor David Y. Ige, the Honorable
Lieutenant Governor Josh Green, and the Honorable Mayor Mitchell D. Roth.
Dated at _____________, Hawai‘i, this ______ day of ___________________, 20___.
INTRODUCED BY:
_______________________________________
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I
COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawai‘i
Hilo, Hawai‘i
ROLL CALL VOTE
AYES
NOES
ABS
EX
CHUNG
DAVID
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the
County of Hawai‘i on _____________________________________.
INABA
KĀNEALI‘I-KLEINFELDER
KIERKIEWICZ
KIMBALL
ATTEST:
LEE LOY
RICHARDS
VILLEGAS
Reference:
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER
RESOLUTION NO.