HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0279.135 2022-2024 "P/Gounci
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COMM.27Q
utupono
INITIATIVE°
Email: communications@ulupono.com
COUNTY OF HAWAII COUNCIL MEETING
Thursday,July 6, 2023 — 9:00 A.M.
Ulupono Initiative supports Bill 48 Draft 3, Relating to Sustainability,Climate, EquIgT, c .
and Resilience. •
::..
Dear Chair Kimball and Members of the Council: 771
My name is Micah Munekata,and I am the Director of Government Affairs at Ulupono --o --r-
Initiative. We are a Hawaii-focused impact investment firm that strives to improve the
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quality of life throughout the islands by helping our communities become more resilient Luf
and self-sufficient through locally produced food,renewable energy and clean
transportation choices,and better management of freshwater resources.
Ulupono supports Bill 48 Draft 3,which establishes the Office of Sustainability, Climate,
Equity,and Resilience within the Hawai'i County Code.
This bill establishes the framework for the County of Hawaii to dedicate resources toward
increased sustainability,mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions,and resiliency to climate
change and other natural or human events. With the ability to develop policies and
programs,metrics, and coordinated government and community efforts,the Office of
Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience (OSCER) will be well situated to address the
most pressing climate issues facing both the County and the entire State. Additionally,
OSCER will be able to directly implement the County of Hawai`i's Draft Integrated Climate
Action Plan (ICAP),which seeks to establish a greenhouse gas emission baseline from
which to develop interventions to reduce Hawaii County contributions to global climate
change,assess climate change impacts on the community,and identify potential climate
change mitigation and adaptation efforts.1 Over the last decade,the County of Hawaii has
made several bold steps towards addressing climate change and taking a proactive role in
its climate future.The establishment of OSCER is a significant additional step towards
consolidating the County of Hawai`i's efforts in addressing climate change. By centralizing
the responsibilities and efforts related to sustainability and climate resilience, OSCER will
1 https://cohplanning.konveio.com/draft-integrated-climate-action-plan-icap-island-hawaii?document=l
Investing in a Sustainable Hawaii Comm. No. �� '
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improve operational efficiency in designing, developing,and implementing progressive
programs and policies for the future.
OSCER will be well-positioned to identify and promote sustainable industries, such as
renewable energy and green infrastructure development. These sectors can stimulate local
economic growth, create jobs,and attract investment.
Also of key importance, OSCER's inclusion of equity in its mandate acknowledges the
importance of addressing social disparities and ensuring that climate action benefits all
members of the community. By considering the needs and perspectives of marginalized
populations, OSCER can work towards equitable and just outcomes in its policies and
programs.
The great potential of this office is evident in a similar agency established by the City and
County of Honolulu,which created the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability,and
Resiliency (OCCSR) in 2016. Since its development, OCCSR has developed and promoted
many climate change policies and programs,leading to many important resilient efforts
across Honolulu. These policies include,but are not limited to,the following: 1) adoption
of the State Energy Conservation Code; 2) implementation of streamlined permitting
procedures for residential clean energy project and electric vehicle charging; 3) passage of
right-sized off-street parking; 4) creation of the building benchmarking program for energy
and water usage; and, 5) codification of shoreline setbacks.2 Over the years,Ulupono has
worked closely with the OCCSR to promote climate change policies and programs to create
a more sustainable and resilient future. We find that creating this office has been a strong
asset to the community,and we believe that the County of Hawai`i's OSCER,as established
in this measure,will undoubtedly provide immediate positive impacts to the county's and
state's climate goals.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Respectfully,
Micah Munekata
Director of Government Affairs
2 https://vwvw.resilientoahu.org/bills