SB 657: UH; SOEST; Center for Climate Resilient Development; Establishment; Climate Change; Appropriation

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE CENTER FOR CLIMATE RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legisture finds that leaders in the State are keenly aware of the vulnerabilities and threats posed by climate change hazards, however no individual office or agency is responsible for developing community resiliency plans.

     The legislature also finds that community resiliency is addressed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world's leading authority on climate science.  In its latest Assessment Report 6 (AR6), the IPCC defined the term "climate resilient development".  The legislature finds that climate resilience development combines strategies to adapt to climate change with actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to support sustainable development with an emphasis on social equity for all communities.

     The legislature further finds that AR6 also defines climate resilient development involving questions of equity and system transitions in land, ocean, and ecosystems; urban and infrastructure; energy; industry; and society, and includes adaptations for human, ecosystem, and planetary health.

     Given the lack of climate resilient development capacity in the State, the legislature proposes leveraging existing modeling expertise in the school of ocean and earth science and technology (SOEST) at the university of Hawaii at Manoa, which has already been working with communities to identify multiple forms of flooding due to sea level rise, hurricane storm surge, heat projections, and leveraging campus-wide expertise in wildfire ignition modeling.  Additionally, the State utilizes modeling products developed by SOEST for the mandatory disclosure in real estate transactions of residential real property lying in sea level rise exposure areas pursuant to section 508D-15(a)(5), Hawaii Revised Statutes, and the analysis of sea level rise required by the State's environmental review process.  The counties also rely on modeling products developed by SOEST to carry out ordinances related to shoreline setbacks and special management areas.

     The legislature also finds that these modeling capacities at SOEST are currently funded by soft money grants and contracts and could disappear any year if funding fails to materialize and, thus, are a fragile resource for Hawaii to depend on for community-focused climate science.  The legislature notes that due to the incoming federal administration's desire to cut budgets and hostility to climate research, this critical research is at risk of being lost.

     The legislature finds that there should be created a center for climate resilient development in SOEST at the university of Hawaii at Manoa.  The center should be a community-focused resource that provides guidance on climate hazards, works moku by moku across the State assessing risk and vulnerabilities to climate hazards, and makes recommendations for capital improvement projects and shovel-ready projects to build resiliency.  The center should also continue to seek external funding to bolster its efforts and expand research and modeling capabilities.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to establish and operate the center for climate resilient development within SOEST at the university of Hawaii at Manoa.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the university of Hawaii at Manoa school of ocean and earth science and technology to establish and operate the center for climate resilient development.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

UH; SOEST; Center for Climate Resilient Development; Establishment; Climate Change; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology within the University of Hawaii at Manoa to establish and operate a Center for Climate Resilient Development.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE CENTER FOR CLIMATE RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legisture finds that leaders in the State are keenly aware of the vulnerabilities and threats posed by climate change hazards, however no individual office or agency is responsible for developing community resiliency plans.

     The legislature also finds that community resiliency is addressed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world's leading authority on climate science.  In its latest Assestment Report 6 (AR6), the IPCC defined the term "climate resilient development".  The legislature finds that climate resilience development combines strategies to adapt to climate change with actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to support sustainable development with an emphasis on social equity for all communities.

     The legislature further finds that AR6 also defines climate resilient development involving questions of equity and system transitions in land, ocean, and ecosystems; urban and infrastructure; energy; industry; and society, and includes adaptations for human, ecosystem, and planetary health.

     Given the lack of climate resilient development capacity in the State, the legislature proposes leveraging existing modeling expertise in the school of ocean and earth science and technology (SOEST) at the university of Hawaii at Manoa, which has already been working with communities to identify multiple forms of flooding due to sea level rise, hurricane storm surge, heat projections, and leveraging campus-wide expertise in wildfire ignition modeling.  Additionally, the State utilizes modeling products developed by SOEST for the mandatory disclosure of sea level rise in real estate transactions pursuant to section 508D-15(a)(5) and the analysis of sea level rise required by the State's environmental review process.  The counties also rely on modeling products developed by SOEST to carry out ordinances related to shoreline setbacks and special management areas.

     The legislature also finds that these modeling capacities at SOEST are currently funded by soft money grants and contracts and thus are a fragile resource for Hawaii to depend on for community-focused climate science and could disappear any year if funding fails to materialize.  The legislature notes that due to the incoming federal administration's desire to cut budgets and hostility to climate research, this critical research is at risk of being lost.

     The legislature finds that there should be created a center for climate resilient development in SOEST at the university of Hawaii at Manoa.  The center should be a community-focused resource that provides guidance on climate hazards, works moku by moku across the State assessing risk and vulnerabilities to climate hazards, and makes recommendations for capital improvement projects and shovel-ready projects to build resiliency.  The center should also continue to seek external funding to bolster its efforts and expand research and modeling capabilities.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to establish and operate the center for climate resilient development within SOEST at the university of Hawaii at Manoa.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the university of Hawaii at Manoa school of ocean and earth science and technology to establish and operate the center for climate resilient development.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 31, 2050.

Report Title:

UH; SOEST; Center for Climate Resilient Development; Establishment; Climate Change; Appropriations

Description:

Appropriates funds for the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology within the University of Hawaii at Manoa to establish and operate a Center for Climate Resilient Development.  Effective 7/31/2050.  (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to the center for climate resilient development.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legisture finds that leaders in the State are keenly aware of the vulnerabilities and threats posed by climate change hazards, however no individual office or agency is responsible for developing community resiliency plans.

     The legislature also finds that community resiliency is addressed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world's leading authority on climate science.  In its latest Assestment Report 6 (AR6), the IPCC defined the term "climate resilient development".  The legislature finds that climate resilience development combines strategies to adapt to climate change with actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to support sustainable development with an emphasis on social equity for all communities.

     The legislature further finds that AR6 also defines climate resilient development involving questions of equity and system transitions in land, ocean, and ecosystems; urban and infrastructure; energy; industry; and society, and includes adaptations for human, ecosystem and planetary health.

     The legislature finds that given the lack of climate resilient development capacity in the State, the legislature proposes leveraging existing modeling expertise in the school of ocean and earth science and technology (SOEST) at the university of Hawaii at Manoa, which has already been working with communities to identify multiple forms of flooding due to sea level rise, hurricane storm surge, heat projections, and leverages campus-wide expertise in wildfire ignition modeling.  Additionally, the State utilizes modeling products developed by SOEST for the mandatory disclosure of sea level rise in real estate transactions pursuant to section 508D-15(a)(5) and the analysis of sea level rise required by the State's environmental review process.  The counties also rely on modeling products developed by SOEST to carry out ordinances related to shoreline setbacks and special management areas.

     The legislature also finds that these modeling capacities at SOEST are currently funded by soft money grants and contracts and thus are a fragile resource for Hawaii to depend on for community-focused climate science and could disappear any year if funding failed to materialize.  The legislature notes that due to the incoming federal administration's desire to cut budgets and hostility to climate research, this critical research is at risk of being lost.

     The legislature finds that there should be created a center for climate resilient development in SOEST at the university of Hawaii at Manoa.  The center should be a community-focused resource that provides guidance on climate hazards, works moku by moku across the state assessing risk and vulnerabilities to climate hazards, and makes recommendations for capital improvement projects and shovel-ready projects to build resiliency.  The center should also continue to seek external funding to bolster its efforts and expand research and modeling capabilities.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to establish and operate the center for climate resilient development.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $3,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the university of Hawaii school of ocean and earth science and technology to establish and operate the center for climate resilient development.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

Report Title:

UH; SOEST; Center for Climate Resilient Development; Climate Change; Appropriations

Description:

Appropriates funds for the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology within the University of Hawaii to establish and operate a Center for Climate Resilient Development.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1923

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   S.B. No. 657

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 657, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CENTER FOR CLIMATE RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to establish and operate a center for climate resilient development.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency of the City and County of Honolulu; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union; Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi; Coalition Earth; and three individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; and Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 657, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1414

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   S.B. No. 657

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 657, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CENTER FOR CLIMATE RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to establish and operate the Center for Climate Resilient Development within the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; University of Hawaiʻi School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology; City and County of Honolulu Office of Climate Change; Ulupono Initiative; Surfrider Foundation Hawaiʻi Region; Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi; Coalition Earth; Hawaiʻi Climate Change and Health Working Group; and three individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the State is vulnerable to climate change and lacks an office or agency that is responsible for developing community resiliency plans.  Your Committee further finds that the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) at the University of Hawaii at Manoa has already been working with communities to identify multiple forms of flooding due to sea level rise, hurricane storm surge, heat projections, and leveraging campus-wide expertise in wildfire ignition modeling.  Your Committee notes that the work conducted at SOEST has largely been funded by federal grants.  Instability, gridlock, and uncertainty in funding from the federal government puts the important work of SOEST at risk of being lost.  This measure appropriates funds for the establishment and operation of a Center for Climate Resilient Development within SOEST and will ensure that SOEST's critical research activities continue.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 657, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1263

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   S.B. No. 657

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 657, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CENTER FOR CLIMATE RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to establish and operate the Center for Climate Resilient Development within the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Health; School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa; Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency of the City and County of Honolulu; Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board No. 34; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii Climate Change and Health Working Group; Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi; Coalition Earth; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union; and five individuals.

     Your Committee finds that there is a lack of climate resilient development capacity in the State.  Your Committee further finds that the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has a proven expertise in climate modeling, and many state laws and policies, such as mandatory disclosures in real estate transactions of residential real property lying within a sea level rise exposure area, depend on the data collected and modeled by SOEST.  However, funding for SOEST is largely through federal grants, which can be subject to the influence of changing national priorities.  Your Committee believes that investing directly in scientific resources by establishing a Center for Climate Resilient Development will ensure important climate science data is preserved and that SOEST's important research activities will continue.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $3,000,000.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 657, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 657, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 942

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 657

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 657, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CENTER FOR CLIMATE RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys to establish and operate the Center for Climate Resilient Development within the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Climate Change and Health Working Group, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Department of Health, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, University of Hawaii, Coalition Earth, Purple Maia Foundation, Ulupono Initiative, Surfrider Foundation Hawaii Region, and six individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the State is vulnerable to climate change and lacks a centralized agency for community resiliency planning.  Your Committee further finds that a Center for Climate Resilient Development, situated within the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, will provide community-focused guidance on climate hazards, assess risks, and recommend resiliency projects, while leveraging existing expertise in climate modeling.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 657, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 232

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 657

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 657 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CENTER FOR CLIMATE RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology to establish and operate a Center for Climate Resilient Development.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Health, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, University of Hawaiʻi School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, Ulupono Initiative, Coalition Earth, Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi, Restore the Commons, Surfrider Foundation Hawaiʻi Region, and two individuals.

     Your Committees find that there is a lack of climate resilient development capacity in the State.  Your Committees further find that the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) has been working with communities to identify multiple forms of flooding due to sea level rise, hurricane storm surge, heat projections, and leverages campus-wide expertise in wildfire ignition modeling.  Your Committees note that state and county agencies utilize modeling products developed by SOEST.  Your Committees additionally find that the modeling capacities at SOEST are currently funded by soft money grants and contracts and are thus a fragile resource for the State that could disappear if funding fails to materialize.  This measure appropriates funds to establish a Center for Climate Resilient Development within SOEST to ensure that the State will continue to benefit from this critical research.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of July 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     Your Committees note that this measure, as amended, contains an unspecified appropriation amount.  Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committees respectfully request that it consider inserting an appropriation amount of $3,000,000 for the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science Technology to establish and operate a Center for Climate Resilient Development.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 657, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 657, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment,