Gov. Ige Signs 3 Climate-Focussed Bills

Gov. David Ige has signed into law three bills that set a carbon-neutral goal by 2045, create a carbon offset program and require a sea-level rise analysis in environmental impact statements.

State Rep. Angus LK McKelvey (West Maui) is an active member of the House Energy and Environmental Protection Committee—a key committee responsible for pushing these measures forward—and participated in the bill signing ceremony to help underscore how these issues are significantly impacting his district.

“I want to thank Rep. Chris Lee for sponsoring these measures and seeing them through because nowhere is this hitting home more than in my district of Lahaina,” said Rep. McKelvey.

HB2106 requires a sea-level rise analysis in environmental impact statements before building projects.

“Sea level inundation is already having an impact on our West Maui beaches, the Honoapi‘ilani Highway, and homes and condos near the shoreline,”Rep. McKelvey said. “It just makes sense to finally take a proactive approach to adapting to sea-level rise so that we don’t approve more buildings or infrastructure in future tidal zones.”

HB 1986 creates a framework for a carbon offset program that allows for carbon credits through global carbon sequestration protocols.

“This could not only help create a green investor economy in Hawai‘i but be a key stimulus to create economic growth through reforestation of areas making it more viable to pursue capturing carbon through reforestation and carbon farming rather than development…” Rep. McKelvey said.

Rep. McKelvey also pointed to HB2182, which makes Hawai‘i carbon neutral by 2045 and establishes the Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Task Force as “our commitment to upholding the tenants of the Paris Accords despite its abandonment by the federal government.”