14 proposes expanding the GEMS program with additional loan capital so more people can access clean energy options. Kahauiki Village on Oahu is powered by solar energy that was financed in part through the Green Energy Market Securitization program. Waypoints seeks to answer these questions by identifying policy and programmatic initiatives at the intersection of job creation, carbon reduction, equity and economic growth. So how might we build an economy around resilience, equality and sustainability? How do we guide our recovery toward growth that is efficient and innovative? How do we generate meaningful jobs that pay a living wage? And beyond our own borders, how do we in Hawaii use our position to model the change that is needed globally? The disruption wrought by COVID-19 has exposed the fragility of our economy and, in many ways, our way of life. Pervasive and persistent systemic inequities mean that the more vulnerable, the more economically disadvantaged and the less privileged among us are the least able to protect themselves and are the hardest hit. The impact of COVID-19 - like the impact of climate change - discriminates. Humanity is learning to step up to make sacrifices that previously seemed inconceivable, and we are redefining what’s socially acceptable for the greater good.įinally, crises amplify the already existing inequities in our society. It’s striking how a pandemic can disrupt seemingly entrenched social norms and habits. Second, we have an incredible ability to adapt. The same is true with climate, where we all have our hands on the Earth’s thermostat. This pandemic lays bare the truth that our fates are tied to our neighbors’, and their fates are tied to everyone else’s. Three clear parallels have emerged between the two crises.įirst, both have illustrated our collective responsibility to each other. In many ways COVID-19 and climate change share similar trajectories - they have different timelines but the same plot structure. Climate change presents a myriad of other challenges to Hawaii’s economy, way of life and very survival.Īction 6: Require that an increasing percentage of Hawaii’s rental cars, tour buses and other visitor-industry transportation be zero-emission vehicles, with a goal of 100% zero-emission tourism vehicles by 2030.Īction 16: Require that rental agreements disclose utility bill costs for a given period (such as the last three months of occupied use) so that prospective renters can make informed decisions.Īction 36: Revamp the current approach to siting utility-scale renewable energy projects to allow for earlier and more meaningful community input. Two years ago, Oahu and Kauai were hit by a “rainbomb” that dropped so much water over Hanalei that it broke the local rain gauge - and broke the national record for the most rain over a 24-hour period: 49.69 inches.Īlthough it’s been almost 30 years since Hawaii last sustained a direct hit from a hurricane, that incredible good fortune (see: Douglas) may not last much longer climate modeling suggests that hurricanes are likely to become larger, stronger and more frequent in the Pacific.
Higher temperatures and more moisture in the atmosphere mean heavier precipitation events. In 2019, the islands tied or broke over 270 high temperature records, and the waters surrounding the islands experienced record heat. Hawaii is acutely vulnerable to the destructive impacts of climate change. It also portends another global crisis of our time: climate change. The coronavirus pandemic has illustrated just how quickly and fundamentally our lives can be forced to change.
12 proposes expanding the clean energy jobs training offered by the University of Hawaii, particularly for those who’ve lost their jobs in the visitor industry. Building career ladders for clean energy jobs: Waypoint action No. We’re now in the midst of “all at once.”Īlthough we are living through a dark time of economic hardship, systemic injustice, increasing climatic change and the upheaval of human health, we at the Blue Planet Foundation see an unparalleled opportunity to reshape and revitalize our collective future.Īs we are all confronted with tough choices about how best to proceed, we have the incredible opportunity to reimagine what is possible for our islands and our future.īlue Planet seeks to help chart a new course for Hawaii through “ Waypoints,” a package of 50 specific actions designed to foster economic growth, create new jobs, ensure equitable access to affordable energy and accelerate our transition to 100% clean energy. To paraphrase Ernest Hemingway, change happens slowly, and then all at once.
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