HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0494.019 2018-2020 COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII.-
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RECEIVED
Time 12'WPM BY
From: Jeff McKnight
Date t i l. i�g
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Resolution 322-19 Endorsing the Declaration of a Climate Emergency for Hawaii County
Date: Monday,September 30,2019 11:06:56 AM
Attachments: Reso 322-19 Climate Emergency docx
Dear Council Members,
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Thank you for considering this resolution to declare a climate emergency. I
would like to start out by asking if you have noticed that our coral reefs are
dying. As a result, there are fewer whales, fish and other marine life. Birds are j
nowhere near as abundant. Plants and trees are struggling to survive and yet we
continue to allow corporations to exploit these living entities for nothing more
than monetary gain.
Our mountains, forests, rivers, oceans and air are living entities that need to be
protected. They are not a warehouse of commodities for humans and
corporations to exploit. They are all part of one community to which we owe
responsibility and to which we are dependent on for survival. The land is a
chief, man is its servant.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recommends a 1.5 centigrade
limit on temperature rises. The panel warns of catastrophic effects if we cross
this threshold. To stay within this threshold will require a radical energy
transition.
Pope Francis recently stated that A failure to act would be a brutal act of
injustice towards future generations. Our future generations should not have to
pay the cost of our past generation's irresponsibility.
Declaring a climate emergency will provide our County with more power to
help curb the effects of climate change and enable the Council to help reduce
carbon emissions. It would also put us into lockstep with the Democratic Part
of Hawaii that recently made a Green New Deal for Hawaii a legislative
priority for 2020.. Statewide we have already recruited a panel of experts from
all over the state representing labor, education, environment and kupuna.
Please pass this resolution and join us in this fight for the Earth...for our future
generations.
Mahalo,
Jeff McKnight
DPH Environmental Caucus Secretary
Chair Green New Deal Hawaii Committee
Comm. No
Ref. To: P1Wtl
Ref. Date OCT 6 1 201