HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0494.007 2018-2020 PAWSONCo
i
From: Philip Barnes
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Resolution 322-19SEP 3 0 IU
Date: Monday,September 30,2019 9:59:42 AM !
September 30, 2019
Aloha Council Members,
It is a pleasure to see that our county is taking this dramatic step to reduce Hawaii County's
contribution to global climate change. Resolution 322-19 introduced by Councilwoman k
Poindexter is a good step in that it recognizes the extent of the emergency and calls for rapid
efforts to reduce the counties carbon footprint. However this resolution's call to action will
ring hallow if the citizen's of the county are not willing to take the steps necessary to achieve
these goals.
The implementation of an actual reduction of greenhouse gases will require aggressive
leadership by the county. This leadership must, among other things, empower all stakeholders
to make the required changes if the goals are to be achieved in a timely fashion. And we all are
well aware by this juncture that time is of the essence. A grand plan that sits on a shelf
actually makes matters worst by giving us a false sense of security when our continued
survival rest in the balance. The old phrase"walking the talk" comes to hind.
Due to the lack of attention paid to climate change, particularly at the federal level, it is hard to
be optimistic that the required reworking of virtually every governmental and economic
system in place at present will come to pass. This is not to infer that I feel we have crossed the
line of no return and are doomed. All I am saying is we are well past the talking stage and
concrete actions must be taken immediately.
Thank for your time and your efforts.
Sincerely,
Phil Barnes
Hilo, Hawaii
Comm. No.AW1
Ref. To: RM (i
e ,gate O C T 01 2019