Bill > HB1455

This bill seeks to establish a Center for Climate Resilient Development within the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, addressing the state's lack of a coordinated approach to climate change adaptation and resilience. The legislature recognizes that current climate modeling capabilities are funded by unstable grant money and are at risk of disappearing, particularly given potential federal budget cuts. The bill appropriates $3,000,000 for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to create a community-focused center that will provide guidance on climate hazards, assess risks across the state's regions (moku by moku), and recommend capital improvement projects to build resilience. Drawing on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) definitions, the center will focus on combining climate adaptation strategies with greenhouse gas reduction efforts, emphasizing social equity and addressing system transitions in areas like land, ocean, infrastructure, energy, and society. The center will leverage existing expertise in sea level rise, storm surge, heat projections, and wildfire modeling, while continuing to seek external funding to expand its research capabilities. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, with funds to be expended by the University of Hawaii for establishing and operating the center.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1455&year=2026