Leah Laramee has joined the State Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission as its new Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Coordinator.

Laramee has been acting as the interim coordinator for the past five months and officially took the role this week.  As interim coordinator,  she collaborated with the University of Hawai‘i to produce a guidance document on the White Houseʻs Justice40 Initiative, ushered through Act 185 which establishes the Hawai‘i Carbon Smart Land Management Assistance Pilot Program to incentivize carbon sequestration activities. That is a program developed by Laramee and the Hawai‘i Natural and Working Lands Research teamand created the Green Blue Urban You working group to look at nature-based solutions for a more resiliant climate ready Hawai‘i.  

Previously, Laramee worked as a Natural Resource Planner with the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) where she helped lead the bid and hosting of the IUCN World Conservation Congress in 2016. At that event in Honolulu Governor David Ige launched the Susustaible Hawai‘i Initiative, which set the stage for Hawai‘i to be a leader in worldwide conservation efforts.

Laramee holds a Master of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Management from the University of Hawai’i, Mānoa in addition to a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with a minor in Political Science.

In a press release Laramee said, “I am honored to be joining the Climate Commission as coordinator.  I intend to continue my support of the Commissionʻs mission to promote ambitious, climate-neutral, culturally responsive strategies for climate change adaptation and mitigation in a manner that is clean, equitable, and resilient.

(Photo credit: DLNR)