HomeMy WebLinkAboutNR06-19-17-B
C O U NT Y O F KAU A‘I
BERNARD P. CARVALHO JR.
Mayor
WALLACE G. REZENTES JR.
Managing Director
News Release
June 19, 2017
Mayor signs proclamation supporting Paris Agreement
LĪHU‘E – Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. today signed a proclamation in support of the
Paris Agreement. The signing took place at the Kaua‘i Energy Conference, which was held at
the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club.
“The impacts of climate change can be seen all over the world and we need leadership
to address this major challenge,” said the mayor. “Although Kaua‘i is a small island, we believe
it is our responsibility to take a leadership position on climate change mitigation, and we are
strongly committed to staying on course to build a more sustainable and resilient future for our
community and beyond.”
Mayor Carvalho was joined on stage for the ceremony by Department of Education
District Superintendent Bill Arakaki, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) President/CEO
David Bissell, Kaua‘i Community College Chancellor Helen Cox, along with several high school
students.
The mayor said that the county has been preparing for the inevitable impacts of climate
change for a number of years.
“In 2013, we signed a memorandum of understanding with KIUC to accelerate the
island’s transition to clean energy,” said Mayor Carvalho. He noted that the changing out of the
county’s streetlights to LED lights is expected to save taxpayers approximately $400,000
annually.
The County of Kaua‘i is also working to reduce emissions from its facilities and fleet.
Some of the projects that have been completed thus far include the installation of a magnetic
bearing chiller in the Līhu‘e Civic Center, efficiency improvements at the wastewater treatment
plants, the addition of electric vehicles to the county fleet and the launch of a county motor pool.
Additionally, the county’s climate mitigation efforts are reflected in the General Plan
Update, which contains policies and actions for flooding, erosion and sea level rise.
Last week, Mayor Carvalho joined the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda, a
network of nearly 200 U.S. mayors. The group is working together to strengthen efforts for
reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to support efforts for binding federal and global
policymaking.
Earlier this month, representatives of the four Hawai‘i counties gathered at the State
Capitol when Gov. David Ige signed two bills that support the commitments and goals of the
Paris climate accord.
In 2014, Mayor Carvalho, along with the governor, other county mayors, Office of
Hawaiian Affairs, State Legislature and a number of public/private partners from diverse sectors
launched the Aloha+ Challenge.
The leadership team made a statewide commitment to achieve six integrated goals by
2030 that focus on clean energy, local food production, natural resource management, waste
reduction, smart sustainable communities, and green workforce and education.