HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0279.090 2022-2024 p/Court6
n►(l ug
"" 4E Lisa Diaz 60144.211
,� - 76-223 Haoa, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 ,,,
808-938-1389 scidiaz angmail.com r�cif
6/19/23 0 HCl
Aloha Honorable Members of Hawaii County Council:
I strongly support Bill 48,which proposes the creation of the Office of Sustainability, Climate, .._.
Equity, and Resilience(OSCER)for Hawai'i County. As a Kona science educator for 20 years, I have
taught^'3000 island students to Malama i ka aina, malama i ka kai. My hope is that my students
and future generations can thrive in harmony with our natural environment.
Bill 48 is essential to move Hawaii County forward to better manage challenges to LEAD island-wide
efforts to mitigate climate change, promote sustainability, and build community resilience.
Climate Change is a critically important, problem that urgently needs to be addressed head-on in
Hawaii. We need to work hard to meet Hawaii's goal to be 100%carbon neutral by 2045. Our efforts
must continue beyond 2045 to protect our island and planet for future generations.
As an island state, we are extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Hawaii State
government has set goals to consistently reduce greenhouse gases in phases by adopting clean energy
initiatives and emission reduction to NET ZERO by 2045. https://climate.hawaii.gov/hi-mitigation/goals-and-progress/
OSCER will enable Hawaii County's leadership to prioritize sustainability and resilience coordination
throughout departments to equitably protect our kamaaina and natural resources. OSCER allows
Hawaii County government and residents to unite in mitigating climate change to protect our island.
Bill 48 is pono as it considers climate impacts on historically marginalized groups, low to middle-
income folks, and our keiki.
Creating OSCER with cabinet level admin., is strategic to enable timely, coordinated action within our
county government departments and among our citizens. OSCER will have the authority and resources
to implement effective policies to meet climate goals. Bill 48 establishes a Climate Action Revolving
Fund,to support programs that align with OSCER's climate objectives, enabling cost savings, which can
be reinvested to meet climate action goals.
I urge you to pass Bill 48 to create OSCER in Hawai'i County to provide the critically needed leadership
to enable proactive policy to protect Hawaii's environmental sustainability, and aide climate change
adaptation, and community resilience. It is our kuleana to protect Hawaii for our keiki!
I ask Government Operations and External Affairs Committee members to support Bill 48 and
recommend its passage to Hawaii County Council. Mahalo to Chairperson, Heather Kimball,
Rebecca Villegas and all who crafted Bill 48! We need to foster this important opportunity to
protect our people AND preserve Hawaii's environment and wildlife for future generations.
Mahalo nui loa,
Lisa Diaz Comm. No.4.,_t___111(1 ICIRef.To: P I�INmi
76-223 Haoa St; Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 scidiaz@gmail.com 808-938-1389 Ref. Date JUN 2 1 2021