Photos

Advertisement

Is this possible? Climate change experts and environmentalists warn that if we do not take drastic measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to below 350 parts per million, predictions of a “water world” could very well become a reality.

On Wednesday, Nov. 4, community members gathered at Maui Community College for a public workshop hosted by the Hawai‘i State Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Reduction Task Force, which is part of the Strategic Industries Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT). The workshops are being held across the state in an effort to gather community input regarding Act 234, or Hawai‘i’s Global Warming Solutions Act, which seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by issuing rules on six GHGs: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxides, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorcarbons and sodium hexafluoride.

According to the DBEDT Website, “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions can benefit the environmental and economic well-being of Hawai‘i and supports the goals of the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI) by using technology and practical solutions to switch to a clean energy economy. [The] HCEI seeks to lessen Hawai‘i’s dependency on imported oil, protect our environment, keep money in the local economy, and position Hawai‘i as a leader in innovation and utilizing indigenous renewable power.”

Established in 2007, the GHG Emissions Reduction Task Force seeks “to mitigate the effects of global warming, which can cause problems such as sea level rise, shoreline erosion, saltwater intrusion into water supply; ocean acidification, reef breakdown; warmer ocean surfaces; crop and forest changes and loss of habitats; more severe storms and weather patterns; and health effects and disease.”

According to GHG Task Force Co-Chairman Ted Liu, “This task force was formed by statute to develop cost-effective measures for doing Hawai‘i’s part in reducing greenhouse gasses and their effect on climate change… we are considering the likely effects of existing laws in addition to the many projects in the HCEI to meet the objective of the law.”

If passed by the Legislature, Act 234 will reduce current greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, excluding aviation and international fuels. In order to present recommendations to the Legislature, the task force will meet with residents across the state to review three proposed GHG reduction work plans for the state. Each of the work plans aims to “implement the maximum practically and technically feasible, cost-effective reductions in GHG emissions to achieve the statewide GHG emissions reductions and limits by 2020,” according to GHG Task Force members.

At Wednesday’s workshop, GHG Task Force Co-Chairman Laurence Lau presented an overview of GHGs, Act 234, the HCEI and each of the three proposed work plans. In addition, he and fellow task force members answered a range of questions from audience members regarding the parameters of the task force’s initiatives and work plans. Lau acknowledged that the work plans included a variety of energy sources, including geothermal, solar and methane recovery from the county landfill.

“We are looking at all of those things,” he said.

Task Force Member Ted Peck reassured that “we have a plan… it’s a good plan and we are going to execute it.” Hawai‘i will be the envy of the nation, he said. “We are—and will be—where the rest of the country wants to be,” he said. “We are driving towards a state of independence from petroleum.”

Concluding the workshop, Lau said although Hawai‘i is just a small part of worldwide GHG emissions, he is committed to see that the state does its part in combating global warming. “We need to do our share,” he said. “We want to be a world leader… and we will be.”

Lau encouraged residents to submit their comments for consideration by the GHG Task Force by Dec. 1, 2009, to Chris Baron or Colleen Miller at the DBEDT office by calling (808) 587-3801 or emailing cbaron@dbedt.hawaii.gov or Colleen.M.Miller@dbedt.hawaii.gov. For more information, or to view the GHG Emissions Reduction Task Force Work Plans, visit the DBEDT Website at www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/energy/greenhouse.

Facebook  MySpace  Digg  Stumble    Mixx  Fark  del.icio.us   LiveSpaces

Member Comments

View Comments: | Post a comment

No comments posted for this article.

You must first login before you can comment.