Bills target ‘carbon neutrality’ by 2045

Business and environmental leaders joined state lawmakers at a Magic Island news conference Tuesday to urge Gov. David Ige to sign two bills aimed at committing Hawaii to achieve “carbon neutrality” by 2045.

House Bill 2182 would make the state the first in the nation to commit to a zero-emissions clean economy, meaning the state will sequester more carbon and greenhouse gases than it produces, thus creating a net zero carbon footprint. The bill sets 2045 as the target date for achieving that goal.

“Fighting climate change and building a zero emissions clean economy over the next two decades means catalyzing huge opportunities for new investment, jobs and growth in our economy today,” said state Rep. Chris Lee (D, Kailua-Lanikai-­Waimanalo), author of the bill and chairman of the House Energy and Environmental Protection Committee.

“This is the biggest step forward on climate change any state has yet taken, but we know we can do this and it’s going to benefit everyone,” he said.

To help achieve the goal, the Legislature also passed unanimously this session House Bill 1986, which calls on the state Office of Planning to work with the Green Gas Sequestration Task Force to come up with the framework for a carbon offset program through the use of carbon credits.

Together the bills are expected to accelerate outside investment in the state’s renewable energy and clean transportation sectors and stimulate new investment in local agriculture — such as the establishment new forest ecosystems — as other jurisdictions begin to invest carbon credit dollars in Hawaii to offset their own carbon emissions.

Experts forecast that sea level rise could cost the state $19 billion in lost coastal infrastructure. Revenue generated from forest carbon offset credits would be placed into a forest stewardship fund while nonforest carbon credits would go to fund projects that mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Among the groups represented at the press conference were the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii Farmers Union United and Sierra Cub of Hawaii.

“Moving forward on this bill will help catalyze additional investment in local businesses while helping us reach our 100 percent renewable energy by 2045 goal and achieve economic, social and environmental sustainability,” said Sherry Menor McNamara, president and chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

Jodi Leong, a spokeswoman for Ige, said the bills are among those undergoing policy and legal review. The governor must signal his intent to veto any bill passed by this year’s Legislature by June 25.

As the bills were making their way through the Legislature, state Land Board Chairwoman Suzanne Case voiced support for both measures as a means of helping restore and protect forests on private lands, as well as promoting agro-forestry. Officials with the Office of Planning and state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism said they support the intent of Senate Bill 1986, provided the measure does not negatively affect other budget priorities.