HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0279.104 2022-2024 P1 CDulnciil
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From: Melinda Hughes
Sent: Monday,June 19, 2023 3:37 PM f
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To: Council Testimony ,� c
Subject: Written Comments on Bill 48
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Please forward my comments below to the County Council! Mahalo!
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Sincerely, c 7- ��
Melinda
Aloha! My name is Melinda Hughes, and I'm the Director of Policy, Equity, and Culture at Yummet. First, I want to thank
you for your commitment to climate action.As we know, Hawaii is extremely susceptible to climate change and
subsequent effects like sea level rise,food insecurity, etc.
I support Bill 48, which in passing will take your commitment to addressing climate change to the next level. In passing
this bill, it not only shows your commitment but shows your constituents that as a council you will take significant issues
seriously and work together to solve them. Since 2005, my decades-long environmental career has been focused on
addressing climate change, and I've worked with countless jurisdictions at all levels of government. In passing bills like
Bill 48,this has led to other opportunities including funding for climate, more staffing for climate, and more credibility
with your voting constituents and beyond. Last year,working across a region,we saw a 600%increase in staffing
dedicated to climate action, an increased funding for climate action, and jurisdictions taking further steps like
implementing a "climate lens"and an "equity lens" in major and minor jurisdictional decisions.
Specific to Bill 48, I think having an office dedicated to sustainability, climate, equity and resilience is much better than
having the new positions within other departments. In my experience, I've seen similar positions buried in the Public
works department,Water Resources department. Having the separate office again shows the council's commitment to
climate action and sets the new staff persons up for success.
There is one aspect of this type of work that often gets overlooked, and I'd like to see more language about this added.
This would be climate education and awareness for the general population. Because climate change has become a
polarizing topic, the more community buy-in your new staff can build,the more success and the quicker success you'll
see.
In my last two years of climate work, I've worked under a Collective Impact framework as well as the Climate Lens and
an Equity Lens.This has worked well, so I applaud you for looking at at the Collective Impact framework.The co-benefits
of doing so for climate work,whether it be on trees or buildings or whatever topic, are often overlooked when one
works on solo-topic projects.
In closing, overall, I think you're all doing a great job, moving the needle forward with OSCER, and I look forward to
seeing it build for success. Passing Bill 48 is a win and an equitable one! Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Melinda Hughes
Comm. Mo. ____ t)
Ref.To: "Cin�i►�
1 Ref..Date JUN 2 1 2023