On Monday, Governor Josh Green, M.D. started off climate week by sharing his vision for Hawai‘i’s leadership in renewable energy and climate action in his first major climate speech.

This vision includes a number of climate policy initiatives including a recommitment to the U.S. Climate Alliance, and the establishment of a Climate Advisory Panel.

The U.S. Climate Alliance is a bipartisan coalition of governors committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Hawaiʻi is the only Pacific Island member of the coalition.

The Governor has also assembled a small panel of local climate, business, energy, and community leaders to help formulate the goals and responsibilities of a cabinet-level senior climate advisor position and to support the recruitment of candidates for the Governor’s consideration over the next month.

The leader in this new climate position will work to foster collaboration on climate initiatives across departments; accelerate the adoption of climate and clean energy policies; and coordinate implementation of and funding for clean energy, climate, and resiliency initiatives. The position will also help align and leverage broader public and private community interests with the bold, rapid changes we need to make.

Chairing the Climate Advisory Panel will be Dawn Lippert, CEO of Elemental Excelerator, and Chris Benjamin, CEO of Alexander and Baldwin, who will be working with the climate leaders on the Governor’s cabinet.

Other climate and energy announcements include the pursuit of major federal and private investments into the state for solar, energy efficiency, and energy storage technologies to reduce costs and create healthier communities, and a commitment of no less than $100 million to a climate impact fund to fight climate change and preserve the state’s natural resources.