It doesn’t take much more than invasive fire ants or your electric bill to know we have a world in trouble. We’ve known this for decades. Now is the time to mobilize to achieve security and resilience in Hawaii’s economy and environment.
We don’t need to go into great depth about the challenges of an island community. We are dependent on imports for food and fuel — costing us more than $8 billion each year — and our unique island ecosystems and lifestyle are particularly susceptible to invasive species, sea-level rise, natural disasters and other impacts of a changing climate.
Hawaii made a significant stand when more than 10,000 residents contributed to the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan, and these principles are now state law.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s budget, the state Legislature’s 2014 majority package and private sector investments support many sustainability priorities. We need persistent and coordinated action along with strategic investment to achieve these goals.
Last year, legislators approved funding for watershed protection and to fight invasive species. The governor’s appointment to the President’s Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience is focusing attention on how federal, state and county groups need to jointly respond to this global threat. A good start; we need to stay on course.
Hawaiʻi Green Growth, a group of leaders representing a public and private cross-section of our community, has identified the following top legislative priorities to keep us on the path to sustainability:
» Extension of the barrel tax to 2030. These funds will go toward clean energy, agricultural food security and response to environmental disasters, such as the molasses spill in Honolulu Harbor.
» Increased funds for watershed protection to safeguard fresh water and assist the invasive species battle.
Getting widespread support from groups with different interests is not common, but Hawai‘i Green Growth leaders are supporting additional priorities this year in agriculture, waste reduction, community fisheries enforcement, and planning for climate change.
The "Aloha+ Challenge: A Culture of Sustainability — He Nohona ‘Ae‘oia" calls for a bold statewide commitment to achieve six targets by 2030:
1. Clean energy: 70 percent clean energy — 40 percent from renewables and 30 percent from efficiency.
2. Local food: At least double local food production — 20-30 percent of food consumed is grown locally.
3. Natural resource management: Reverse the trend of natural resource loss through increased watershed protection, community-based marine manage- ment, invasive species control and native species restoration.
4. Waste reduction: Reduce the solid waste stream prior to disposal by 50 percent through source reduction, recycling and bioconversion.
5. Smart sustainable communities: Increase livability and resilience in the built environment through planning and implementation at state and county levels.
6. Green workforce: Increase local green jobs and education to implement these targets.
Our highest elected officials and key leaders from federal, state, county, business and nonprofit organizations support the Aloha+ Challenge. It can accelerate statewide action, increase support from key public and private partners, and create new economic benefits from national and international recognition.
A critical next step is the Legislature’s resolution to support the Aloha+ Challenge. Strong, statewide backing will empower our elected leaders to commit jointly to the Challenge at home and internationally. It will position Hawaii as a leader in island sustainability, ready to learn and share our green growth experience. It will strengthen many federal partnerships and expand regional collaboration on shared concerns.
Perhaps most important, it will promote accountability and continuity for long-term implementation of Hawaii’s sustainability targets.
We urge action. Together, we can build a more secure, sustainable and resilient economy for all of Hawaii.
There really isn’t time to wait.
