HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 203 Draft 01 2022-2024A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE 2023 INTEGRATED CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AS THE COUNTY’S OFFICIAL STRATEGIC PLAN TO ACHIEVE ITS EMISSIONS MITIGATION AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION GOALS AND TARGETS.
WHEREAS, Hawaiʻi County recognizes that there is overwhelming scientific evidence that atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other potent “greenhouse gases” is reaching historic
levels driven by human activity and the burning of fossil fuels; and
WHEREAS, this increase of greenhouse gases is the beginning of a cascading cycle of climate and environmental hazards, which will increase the average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere
and oceans and cause more extreme variations in the global climate and a rise in average sea levels; and
WHEREAS, extreme variations in the global climate are predicted to increase the severity and frequency of tropical cylcones, storms, precipitation events, heat waves, and droughts, which
will lead to more compounding natural hazards that pose direct and indirect threats to Hawaiʻi Island commuities such as wildfires, landslides, invasive species, flooding, and soil
and coastal erosion; and
WHEREAS, in order to minimize Hawaiʻi’s contributions to global climate change, the State Legislature passed H.B. 2182 in 2017, which set a goal to sequester more atmospheric carbon
and greenhouse gases than emitted within the State as quickly as practicable, but no later than 2045; and
WHEREAS, on October 16, 2019, the Council of the County of Hawaiʻi adopted Resolution No. 322-19, Draft 2, which declared a Hawaiʻi County climate emergency and requested regional collaboration
towards an immediate and just transition and emergency mobiliziation effort to restore a safe climate; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Research and Development and Department of Planning have developed an Integrated Climate Action Plan, attached hereto as “Exhibit A,” that outlines actions
and strategies for the County to pursue to mitigate its greenhouse gas emissions and reinforce county assets, services, and infrastructure to adapt to the aforementioned impacts and
hazards of climate change; and
WHEREAS, actions taken by local governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can provide multiple benefits by providing energy and cost savings, public health improvements, local job
creation, resource conservation, climate resilience, and enhanced equity; and now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I that the Integrated Climate Action Plan shall be the County of Hawaiʻi’s official strategic roadmap to achieve its climate change
related goals and targets.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Integrated Climate Action Plan is the result of a FEMA Hazard Mitigation grant and will be integrated into other County efforts and will be a critical
component in the next update to the County’s Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan and the General Plan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that County departments and agencies referenced in the Integrated Climate Action Plan shall complete the actions and strategies assigned to them and provide continuous
feedback and communication on the status of implementation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Integrated Climate Action Plan be submitted to the American Planning Association for its innovative and comprehensive framework outlining the cascading
effects and hazards of climate change.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to Director Doug Adams, Department of Research and Development; Director Zendo Kern, Department
of Planning, and Director Deanna Sako, Department of Finance.
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
EVANS
GALIMBA
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
KAGIWADA
KĀNEALI‘I-KLEINFELDER
KIERKIEWICZ
ATTEST:
KIMBALL
LEE LOY
VILLEGAS
Reference:
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER
RESOLUTION NO.
EXHIBIT A