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HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm No 0017.01 - Response - R&D - CA-3 - Climate Change and ResiliencyHarry Kim Mayor County of Hawaii DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 25 Aupuni Street, Room 1301 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720-4252 (808) 961-8366 • Fax (808) 935-1205 E-mail: chresdev@hawalicounty.gov MEMORANDUM Date: December 3, 2018 To: Douglass Shipman Adams, Chair, Hawai`i. County Charter Commission From: Diane Ley, Director, Department of Research and Developmen Ron Whitmore, Deputy Director, Department of Research and RE: Climate Change Responsibilities, Programs, Actions for the Department of Research and. Development Diane L. Ley Director Ron Whitmore Deputy Director CD We are writing in response to your November 16, 2018 mein() seeking our input regarding the Department. of Research and Development's role in coordinating the County's response to climate change and the programs and activities the department directly or indirectly participates in with regard to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the impacts of climate change. The Mission of the Department of Research and Development Section 6-8.3 of the County Charter charges the Director of Research and Development (R&D) to: (a) Collect and develop data necessary for managerial and legislative decision-making, and program and policy-making. (b) Provide staff leadership for public and private development programs, enterprises and plans, including economic, social and cultural proposals, which enhance and improve the county community. In addition, Flawai `i County Code Chapter 2, Article 8 outlines the role of the "Sustainability Action Committee" that sits "in an advisory capacity to the director of the department [of Research and Development} on matters that support a sustainable economy, society and environment....The sustainability action committee shall make recommendations and support the department's integration of planning and implementation of sustainable principles in its work...." R&D, therefore, informs planning, policy, and programmatic decision-making with data -driven research and collaborates in the development and funding of initiatives seeking environmental, community, and economic sustainability. It does this through programs advancing knowledge management, economic development, energy, and sustainable development. Please refer to our September 14, 2018 presentation to the Commission for additional details about the mission and focus of the Department of Research and Development. The Department of Research and Development's Role in. Coordinating Climate Change Responses Mayor Kim understands and supports the County's state -mandated obligation to transition to 100% renewable power generation and net carbon neutrality by 2045. He also recognizes the critical need to plan for climate change impacts like sea level rise, severe storms, drought, and rising air and sea temperatures. Mayor Kim has joined the mayors of the other three counties in committing to the Paris Climate Change Agreement and in establishing a goal of 100% renewable transportation by 2045. Bearing in mind R&D's mission, Mayor Kim asked the Department to coordinate the development and implementation of climate change strategies with other County agencies and external partners. To do that, R&D draws on resources available through local, national, and international sustainability networks as well as the expertise of a growing "climate team." That team within R&D currently includes the County's Energy Specialist, an AmeriCorps*'VISTA Climate Change Specialist, and the Deputy Director. R&D is. Comm. No. 17.1 Hawai''i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer also recruiting a Sustainability Specialist who will coordinate related programs, and we will soon be recruiting Energy Solutions and Transportation Solutions VISTA volunteers. Specific R&D initiatives related to climate change include: • Establishing a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory that that will be used to develop County GHG mitigation strategies and monitor County GHG emissions over time • Partnering with Hawaii Energy to maximize energy efficiency and cost savings in County facilities • Collaborating to advance the electrification of transportation as a member of Drive Electric Hawai'i and the Sustainable Transportation Coalition of Hawai'i • Intervening in related dockets of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), like Integrated Grid Planning, Electrification of Transportation, and Performance -Based Ratemaking • Representing the County on the state Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Task Force, which is exploring economic opportunities in carbon markets. Other County Climate Change Responses Several other departments are also leading climate change initiatives and are part of the County's "climate team." To reduce GHG emissions, the Mass Transit Agency is pursuing grant funding to pilot zero emission buses (ZEBs), the Depaitiiient of Public Works is advancing the adoption of an updated energy code, and the Department of Water Supply has staff and a program devoted to energy conservation, efficiency, and cost reduction. To advance climate planning, the Manning Department is integrating climate change adaptation strategies into the General Plan, and the Planning Director represents the County on the state Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Likewise, the Civil Defense Agency plans to incorporate climate adaptation strategies into the Multi -Hazard Mitigation Plan. From there, it islikely that climate adaptation. measures will be implemented through the flood control, subdivision, and zoning codes as well as the coastal zone management and the capital improvements programs. County Options for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Preparing for Climate Change 1. Status Quo: Assume that the County will continue to respond appropriately to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. 2. Strengthen Existing Institutions: a. Amend Section 6-8.3(b) of the Charter to read: "" a In collaboration and coordination with federal and state agencies as well as the private sector, advance public and private development programs, enterprises and plans, including economic, social and cultural proposals, which that enhance and improve the county's environmental, cultural, community, and economic sustainability and resilience." b. Along the lines of CA -3, the City and County of Honolulu Charter, and amendments being considered for the Maui County Charter, amend Chapter 2 of the Hawai` i County Code to more clearly define the qualifications of members of the Sustainability Action Committee as well as the Committee's role, work products, and reporting, including specific climate change responsibilities. 3. Establish New Institutions and. Mandates: Along the lines of CA -3, create a new Commission and county -wide reporting requirements. Recommendation We recommend against both amendments proposed in CA -3. The functions proposed for the Climate Change and Resiliency Commission can be fulfilled by existing County institutions, with or without the Charter and Code amendments outlined in Option 2 immediately above. Moreover, Commissions require a surprising amount of staff time and support from the departments where they are administratively housed. The costs of that support can be significant, including financial, productivity, and opportunity costs. In addition, the reporting requirements in CA -3 would be onerous, impractical, and inefficient, and they are not likely to result in substantive policy, program, or other systemic changes without accompanying goals, objectives, policies, and plans. The Department of Research and Development is already using the best tools and data available to inventory, track, and report County greenhouse gas emissions. In collaboration with other agencies, R&D will soon establish goals, objectives, and strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving net carbon neutrality.