(HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi) --- Senator J. Kalani English was presented with the 2017 Award for Transformational Achievement in Energy Policy and Legislation on August 28 by the Hawaiʻi Energy Policy Forum (HEPF) at its 9th Annual Hawaiʻi Clean Energy Summit held at the YWCA Laniākea.
Senator English receives the Transformational Achievement in Energy Policy and Legislation. (L-R) Gov. Ige, Sen. English, Sharon Moriwaki and Michael Hamnett.
Photo Courtesy: Hawaiʻi Senate Communications
The award recognizes Sen. English’s leadership in introducing SB 559: Relating to Climate Change, signed by Governor Ige as Act 32. Anticipating President Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and, recognizing Hawaiʻi’s vulnerability to climate change, Sen. English pursued legislation to establish a legal commitment to combat climate change by systematically reducing greenhouse gas emission.
Act 32 continues the Paris commitment, and expands on it to provide strategies and mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; establishing the Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to develop strategies and goals and to conduct and report on implementation; and funding a coordinator beginning in FY2017.
“We are grateful to Sen. English for sharing the bigger picture on the Paris Agreement and goals,” said Sharon Moriwaki, Co-Chair of the Hawaiʻi Energy Policy Forum. “His work serves as a reminder that it is not just about the goals—it is about action and now is the time to take action.”
In his acceptance speech, Sen. English expressed the importance of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) which are voluntary international calls to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. Many of these goals, more specifically, Goals: 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and 17 (Partnerships for The Goals) directly relate to clean and sustainable energy, transportation and policy making.
“I commend the work of the Hawaiʻi Energy Policy Forum for its role in bringing together public and private partners to sit down and collaborate on seeking smart energy solutions for Hawaiʻi,” said Sen. English. “I am very honored for the recognition and I look forward to a continued relationship with HEPF in achieving our State’s sustainability goals.”
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About the Hawaiʻi Energy Policy Forum (HEPF)
Established in 2002 as a unique experiment in collaborative energy planning and policy making, the Hawaiʻi Energy Policy Forum (HEPF) is an organization of over 40 representatives from the electric utilities, oil and natural gas suppliers, environmental and community groups, renewable energy industry, academia, and federal, state and local government—all working together to seek smart energy solutions to sustain a healthy, prosperous, and secure Hawaiʻi.
For more information, please visit www.hawaiienergypolicy.hawaii.edu/about/index.html