hawaii
Newsletter
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Hawaii agrees to a zero-emission transportation deadline
Hawaii has reached a legal settlement with young climate activists, requiring the state to achieve zero emissions in its transportation sector by 2045.
In short:
- The lawsuit, filed by 13 young people, claimed Hawaii's transportation policies violated their constitutional rights by contributing to climate change.
- The settlement mandates Hawaii to fully decarbonize its ground, sea, and inter-island air transportation by 2045.
- This agreement includes oversight by the court to ensure compliance and faster progress towards emission reduction goals.
Key quote:
“This is an extraordinary, unprecedented victory for the youth plaintiffs.”
— Michael Gerrard, faculty director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University
Why this matters:
This settlement marks a significant step in addressing climate change by targeting transportation emissions, a major contributor to greenhouse gases. It also demonstrates the power of youth activism in influencing environmental policy.
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Credit: Mick Haupt/Unsplash
Rebuilding in Lahaina sees easing of coastal rules after wildfires
Homeowners in Lahaina, Maui, will now find it easier to rebuild their homes damaged by recent wildfires, as state and local governments relax certain zoning laws to speed up the recovery process.
In short:
- State and county initiatives have suspended the Coastal Zone Management Act specifically for Lahaina, aiding quicker reconstruction post-wildfire.
- A new Recovery Permitting Center will focus on expediting residential rebuilding permits, though plans for commercial properties remain unclear.
- The faster permitting process is crucial for Lahaina as it transitions from disaster response to recovery, focusing on rebuilding homes and infrastructure.
Why this matters:
The easing of restrictions presents a tangible dilemma: it promises swifter reconstruction and a semblance of normalcy for residents yearning for stability, but it also raises the specter of long-term environmental costs. Proponents of the relaxed rules argue that the community's economic recovery hinges on the ability to rebuild quickly and without the red tape that often delays progress. Detractors, however, warn of a slippery slope, suggesting that leniency in the face of disaster could set a precedent for weakening environmental protections under the guise of recovery.
Related: As western wildfires become bigger and more intense, state and federal fire agencies are using more and more aerial fire retardant, prompting concerns over fish kills, aquatic life, and water quality.
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Big Stock Photo
Native Hawaiian salt makers combat climate change and pollution to protect a sacred tradition
A salt patch on the island of Kauai is one of the last remaining in all of Hawaii. Salt makers from 22 Native Hawaiian families gather here in the summer months to do the hard work of making paakai or Hawaiian salt.
Photo by Don Stouder on Unsplash
Grieving Maui residents prepare to rebuild but ask: ‘For whom?’
Hawaii’s environment has suffered since its annexation by the US – can rebuilding return the island to an earlier way of life?
Newsletter
Photo by Neora Aylon on Unsplash
Invasive species have created a cycle of wildfire in Hawaiʻi. Can Maui break it?
Planting native flora could help prevent the island's next wildfire and reconnect Mauians to their cultural heritage.
Photo by Anasmeister on Unsplash
As wildfires multiply, a new era of air pollution
Fires in Canada and the island of Maui, in the US state of Hawaii, have damaged massive areas of land and raised questions about lasting health effects.
Top Story
Image by Stefan Coders from Pixabay
With TikTok and lawsuits, Gen Z takes on climate change
Like a growing number of young people, Kaliko Teruya is engaged in efforts to raise awareness about global warming and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, last year she and 13 other young people, age 9 to 18, sued their home state, Hawaii, over its use of fossil fuels.
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