HCR 201: RECOGNIZING the public health impacts of air pollution from internal combustion engine vehicles and the risks that traffic-related air pollution poses to communities across the State AND AFFIRMING THE COMMITMENT TO TRANSITION TO CLEANER TRANSPORTATION CHOICES.

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

RECOGNIZING the public health impacts of air pollution from internal combustion engine vehicles and the risks that traffic-related air pollution poses to communities across the State AND AFFIRMING THE COMMITMENT TO TRANSITION TO CLEANER TRANSPORTATION CHOICES.

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is fortunate to generally experience good air quality compared to many other parts of the United States; and

     WHEREAS, statewide or regional air quality measurements do not always capture localized or micro-scale pollution impacts that may occur when individuals live, work, or attend school near sources of air pollution, such as heavily traveled roadways or areas with concentrated transportation activity; and

     WHEREAS, internal combustion engine vehicles contribute to a significant amount of air pollution, including emissions of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and other pollutants that can harm human health; and

     WHEREAS, scientific research has demonstrated that exposure to traffic-related air pollution is associated with a range of adverse health outcomes, including asthma, chronic respiratory symptoms, reduced lung function, impaired lung development in children, decreased cognitive function, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and premature death; and

     WHEREAS, epidemiologic evidence from places like New York's South Bronx "Asthma Alley", as well as extensive research in California and inner-cities across the United States, has linked proximity to traffic-related air pollution to asthma, cardiovascular disease, and other adverse health outcomes; and

     WHEREAS, children, older adults, and individuals with existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions are particularly vulnerable to the health effects of air pollution; and

     WHEREAS, internal combustion engine vehicle-related air pollution can infiltrate homes, schools, and other buildings, meaning that residents may experience exposure to pollution indoors as well as outdoors; and

     WHEREAS, research has demonstrated that lower-income communities and communities that already experience environmental health burdens are more likely to be located near major roadways and other sources of pollution; and

     WHEREAS, climate change intensifies the health impacts of traffic-related air pollution, as warmer temperatures increase the production of ground-level ozone and fewer trade wind days lead to less natural ventilation and dispersal of air pollutants; and

     WHEREAS, understanding the public health impacts of traffic-related air pollution is important for informing policies that protect public health and reduce pollution from transportation sources; and

     WHEREAS, the people of Hawaii have a right to understand how traffic-related air pollution affects the health of their families and communities; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the Senate concurring, that this body recognizes the public health impacts of air pollution from internal combustion engine vehicles and the risks that traffic-related air pollution poses to communities across the State; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body acknowledges that certain communities, including those located near major roadways and areas with concentrated transportation activity, as well as vulnerable populations such as children, older adults, and individuals with existing health conditions, may experience disproportionate exposure to harmful air pollution caused by internal combustion engine vehicles; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body recognizes that these impacts may intersect with socioeconomic inequities and environmental justice concerns, including the disproportionate burdens that may fall on lower-income communities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body affirms its commitment to policies that reduce pollution from transportation sources and supporting the transition toward cleaner transportation choices that protect public health, improve air quality, and promote more equitable outcomes for the people of Hawaii; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Transportation, Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission, and Chief Energy Officer of the Hawaii State Energy Office.

Report Title: 

Air Pollution; Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles; Public Health