Environmental Legislative Caucus Hawaii Environmental Change Agents (HECA) Meeting

Saturday, September 18, 2021, 10 – 11:30 am
Register to attend the virtual meeting here: bit.ly/2VZRmrQ

Purpose:

The public is invited to a free online event, entitled, “Hawaii Environmental Change Agents,” which will preview environmental issues that will be priorities in the 2022 legislative session. This event will bring together environmental committee chairs and environmental organizations. They will share their priorities, with the intent of building collaborative relationships that will be effective in ultimately passing legislation that will benefit the environment and the people of Hawaii.

List of Environmental Organizations Participating

• Sierra Club
• Surfrider Foundation
• 350 Hawaii/Our Revolution Hawaii (including Kauai Climate Action Coalition)
• Center for Biological Diversity
• Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition
• Pono Hawaii Initiative
• Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations
• Sierra Club Big Island (Moku Loa)
• Climate reality project
• Faith Action for Community Equity
• The Nature Conservancy
• Blue Planet Foundation
• Citizens Climate Lobby: Hawaii chapters
• Environmental Caucus-Democratic Party
• Climate Protectors Hawaii
• For the fishes (Pono Advocacy)
• Hawaii Youth Climate Coalition
• Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association

Background:

• In May 2021, MG was invited to participate in a webinar planned by a group of Hawaii’s environmental organizations to identify important environmental issues for the 2022 legislative session.
• There’s about 18 environmental organizations and 3 Committee subject matter chairs participating.
• The webinar will consist of two halves. In the first half, each Legislator would give their assessment of the 2021 legislative session specific to environmental issues, then present their top three (3) legislative priorities for the 2022 legislative session. Q&A to follow.
• In the second half, each environmental organization would briefly describe their top three (3) legislative priorities. Legislators would be asked to support those issues, but wouldn’t be asked to commit to anything.
• One of the objectives of the webinar is to strengthen the relationship between Hawaii’s environmental organizations and the Legislature.
• Another objective is to bring more awareness and understanding of legislative environmental issues to the public.