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2024 Climate Future Forum Highlights

What an incredible day of youth activism and engagement at the 2024 Climate Future Forum! Seeing over 100 young leaders come together at the State Capitol to meet with lawmakers and shape climate policy was truly inspiring. Your voices echoed through the halls of the Capitol with purpose and passion.

 

Key Highlights:

  • 80+ youth leaders engaged in meaningful dialogue with lawmakers

  • 5 dynamic policy working groups focused on:

    • Energy & Transportation

    • Regenerative Food Systems

    • Sustainable Infrastructure

    • Climate Economy

    • Human Rights and Climate Justice

  • 20+ organizations participated in powerful networking with youth in the Climate Summit

  • Youth Voice Climate in Climate Action presentations in the Capitol Rotunda

Policy Posters

23-24 Priorities

Regenerative Food Systems

Farm to school

  • Creating new position in DOE and UH CTAR (more farm to school, school garden, and Arborists coordinators)

Food insecurity and imported foods

  • Farm to food bank program and Hawaii food assistance program special fund (SB430)

Restoration of Native Hawaiian farming practices

Food Waste

Climate and The Economy

Carbon Cashback

  • Tax importers and producers of fossil fuels

    • exception for local agriculture vs. culturally-based/diversified agriculture systems

  • Return 80% of revenues to people in lowest four quintiles

  • 20% of revenues available for subsidies for solar panels, electric vehicles, regenerative food systems

  • Bills:  SB2525 and HB2178

Clean Energy and Transportation

Transportation

  • State: 

    • HB199 HD1 zero emission vehicle purchasing assistance for vehicle fleets

    • SB965 SD2 HD1 Green Infrastructure Transportation Taskforce

    • continuous emissions monitoring from incinerators for hazardous air pollutants like dioxins, furans, mercury, and heavy metals

  • City and County 

    • Railroads 

    • Expansion of the bus transportation systems

    • zero-emission school bus mandate and incentives to support fleet transition. This will also address keiki health. 

Clean Energy

  • Solar on Newly Constructed Homes

  • Hawaiʻi Home Energy Assistance Program

  • Permitting Reform

  • SB 1154 - Wheeling

  • Dismantle HELCO, create co-op

Climate Justice & Human Rights

Priorities:

Climate research funding

  • Where is Hawaii in the process of combating climate change?

  • Who in Hawaii are most affected by climate change? 

  • Research database 

  • Connected bills HB441 and SB657 

Appropriate funding to DOE for climate education programs

  • Promoting factual climate change lessons

Initiatives we support:

Carbon Cashback - extra emphasis on redistribution of resources 

The Green Fee - sustainable reliance on tourism

Sustainable Infrastructure & Development

What is urban planning?

The Problem- Low Density/Urban Sprawl:

  • Single family home mandates vs. other housing 

  • Wasteful: More resources spent, more energy spent, more carbon emissions 

  • Dependent on cars for transportation—> more carbon emissions

A Solution- Higher density/Upzoning

  • Decrease in carbon emissions 

  • Apartments and multi family homes (less space taken up, building up instead of out)

  • Everything is in walking distance —-> less reliance on cars

  • Promotes healthier transportation options: Biking, walking, etc

Other Solutions:

  • Affordable eco-housing/material 

  • Tiny house/portable houses

  • Renewable energy 

  • Planting trees

  • Multipurpose homes

Legislation

  • California [SB9]: Legalizes (with small exceptions like for fire-prone areas) building duplexes in all previously single family home zones

  • Washington [HB1351] Reduces minimum lot size requirements

  • [HB839] 2023: Eligible housing developers prepare mandatory statement on sustainability efforts and environmental impact 

  • [HB837] Establishes objectives for green spaces and green infrastructure, making plants and tree lines available in public spaces

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