Bill > SCR157

This concurrent resolution urges the State of Hawaii to adopt the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, a United Nations initiative aimed at protecting marine ecosystems in international waters. The resolution highlights the significance of the agreement, which was adopted by nearly 200 countries in June 2023 after over two decades of international collaboration. The BBNJ Agreement addresses critical environmental challenges such as marine biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, climate change impacts, ocean warming, deoxygenation, acidification, and pollution. Key elements of the agreement include managing marine genetic resources, establishing marine protected areas, conducting environmental impact assessments, and promoting capacity building and technology transfer. The resolution emphasizes the importance of sharing both monetary and non-monetary benefits from marine resources equitably and supports implementing the agreement's recommendations to advance climate justice, sustainable development, and earth rights. By urging adoption at the state and county levels, the resolution seeks to encourage effective, inclusive, and rights-based approaches to marine conservation and sustainable use of ocean resources beyond national jurisdictions.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SCR&billnumber=157&year=2025