Urging The Governor, Mayors Of Each County, And The State To Work Towards A Just Climate Future By Integrating Indigenous Knowledge Into Policy And Decision-making Processes Related To Climate Adaptation, Climate Mitigation, And Climate Resiliency.
Summary
SCR 93 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution urging the Governor, each county mayor, and the State of Hawaii to pursue a “just climate future” by incorporating Indigenous knowledge into climate-related policy and decision-making. The resolution frames climate destabilization as an urgent threat and argues that Native Hawaiian and other Indigenous practices, languages, and traditional ecological knowledge should be treated as essential tools for climate adaptation, mitigation, and resiliency.
The measure specifically calls for the State and counties to formulate goals that meaningfully include Indigenous knowledge in climate planning and to invest in and practice ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi as part of that effort. It also references the Hawaii State Constitution’s protections for environmental rights, natural resources, and traditional and customary practices, and points to Pacific regional collaboration, including the Tuurama Ariki Declaration, as part of the broader context for action.
Impact
SCR 93 does not change statutory law or create enforceable regulatory requirements; as a concurrent resolution, it expresses the Legislature’s position and urges executive and county action. Its practical impact is to encourage state and county agencies to integrate Indigenous knowledge, Native Hawaiian cultural practices, and the Hawaiian language into climate adaptation, mitigation, and resiliency planning, and to align future policy development with those principles.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the resolution. It passed the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee 4-1 with amendments, indicating support for the resolution’s goals while also showing at least some hesitation or disagreement. No committee transcript was provided, so the broader discussion appears to have been supportive overall, especially around climate resilience and Native Hawaiian knowledge.
Contention
The main points of contention likely center on how climate policy should be developed and whose knowledge systems should guide it. Supporters emphasize that Indigenous knowledge and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi are essential to equitable climate planning and long-term resilience, while the lone dissenting vote in committee suggests at least one member may have questioned the resolution’s approach, scope, or policy implications. Because the measure is nonbinding, any disagreement is more about policy direction and priorities than about immediate legal mandates.
Same As
Urging The Governor, Mayors Of Each County, And The State To Work Towards A Just Climate Future By Integrating Indigenous Knowledge Into Policy And Decision-making Processes Related To Climate Adaptation, Climate Mitigation, And Climate Resiliency.
Urging The Governor, Mayors Of Each County, And The State To Work Towards A Just Climate Future By Integrating Indigenous Knowledge Into Policy And Decision-making Processes Related To Climate Adaptation, Climate Mitigation, And Climate Resiliency.