Hawaii efforts to address the climate emergency

[ironyak]

Mix of climate-related actions at the state level on the radar - the storm keep a coming and someone's gotta pay to clean up the mess.

Trump administration sues Hawaii, 3 other states to block climate lawsuits, laws
https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/202...uits-laws/
President Donald Trump’s administration said Thursday it is suing four Democratic-led states to prevent them from enforcing “burdensome and ideologically motivated” laws and pursuing lawsuits against the fossil fuel industry over the harms caused by climate change.
...
Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez filed the state’s lawsuit against oil companies Thursday.
...
The litigation filed by the Justice Department Wednesday against Hawaii and Michigan said the intended lawsuits by the states constitute an “extraordinary extraterritorial reach” that would unlawfully undermine federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and the administration’s foreign policy objectives.

Numerous Democratic-led states have in recent years filed similar lawsuits against companies including Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Shell and BP, accusing them of deceiving the public about the role fossil fuels have played in causing climate change.

The Hawaii complaint names those five oil companies and Aloha Petroleum, Phillips 66, Woodside Energy Hawaii, BHP Hawaii, Equilon, and the American Petroleum Institute.
...
“The federal lawsuit filed by the Justice Department attempts to block Hawaii from holding the fossil fuel industry responsible for deceptive conduct that caused climate change damage to Hawaii,” said Gov. Josh Green.

He pointed to the “devastating climate-driven, wildfire-initiated disaster on Maui” that resulted in the “tragic loss of 102 lives” and billions of dollars in damage.

“This climate-related wildfire was the deadliest in United States history in more than a century,” said Green.
...
The U.S. Supreme Court in March rejected a bid by 19 Republican-led states, led by Alabama, to block five Democratic-led states from pursuing such lawsuits. The Republican-led states raised similar claims as the Justice Department’s case." (more at link)


Meanwhile, the Hawaii legislature passed a small increase in TAT and a 11% fee on cruise ship cabins that should help raise $85 - $100 million for climate-related mitigation projects. Good to see the local lawmakers and Green going to bat to actually acknowledge and address reality.

[MyManao]

..it is suing four Democratic-led states..

Seems like a perfect time to talk secession..

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

prevent them from enforcing “burdensome and ideologically motivated” laws

Wait, what?
I can’t keep up.  Now they’re against burdensome & politically motivated laws?
Considering the oil companies understood what burning fossil fuels would do, by doing their own research, which in this case was factual and true, it would seem the state of Hawaii has a strong case. Perhaps too strong, that it’s deemed necessary to nip it in the bud?

[Durian Fiend]

Meanwhile, the Hawaii legislature passed a small increase in TAT and a 11% fee on cruise ship cabins that should help raise $85 - $100 million for climate-related mitigation projects...

That 11% tax on cruise ship cabins is an eye opener, and no doubt very unpopular with the cruise lines.  

Mitigation?  Ha! I'm afraid that's wishful thinking, although it's good excuse for spending money on worthwhile projects.

[Rob Tucker]

At least a good excuse to spend money. My expectations with Hawaii government are low.

[TomK]

Hawaii's effect on climate change is minute compared to the rest of the world. I agree that everyone should fight climate change, but adding more taxes harms local companies. Those who are rich will keep visiting, but those wanting to examine their spending might choose different options than Hawaii. And seriously, what will the $100K million be used for in reality, even if it's a realistic estimate? At some point, you'll price out the people who make a substantial economic contribution to the state.

[Obie]

This is beyond ridiculous. How can the end user of a product (oil) sue the producer of that product for causing climate change and continue to use it.
In the case of Hawaii County hauling trash across the island to a landfill instead of building a new landfill is unnecessarily contributing to global warming.
Instead of charging tourists for contributing , just ban tourists.

[kalakoa]

The current TAT puts ~$750M into the General Fund -- so there was already money available, the "green" fee is just an excuse to charge more.

[leilanidude]

Will the state of Hawaii sue the volcano next?

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

This is beyond ridiculous. How can the end user of a product (oil) sue the producer of that product

Many companies have been sued for selling a product claimed safe, but later discovered to be toxic.
Asbestos is just one example (Pearl Harbor Shipyard).

In the case of Exxon:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/artic...years-ago/