Encouraging The Adoption Of Recommendations From The United Nations Global Plastics Treaty And Rapa Nui Summit Declaration To Address Climate Justice And Sustainable Development.
SR111 is a Senate resolution expressing Hawaii’s support for the recommendations of the United Nations Global Plastics Treaty and the Rapa Nui Summit Declaration. The resolution frames plastic pollution as part of a broader “triple planetary crisis” involving climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, and it emphasizes the importance of ocean protection, sustainable development, and climate justice in the Pacific. It highlights the role of indigenous peoples, local communities, women, youth, and traditional knowledge in conserving marine resources and addressing environmental harm.
The resolution encourages the State to align with international efforts to reduce plastic production and consumption, phase out unnecessary single-use plastics, expand reuse and refill systems, improve transparency and monitoring of plastics and chemicals, and support a just transition for affected workers and communities. It also calls for stronger producer responsibility, elimination of toxic chemicals, and economic incentives consistent with a zero-waste hierarchy. The measure further urges greater participation in United Nations human rights, sustainable development, and climate processes, and directs certified copies to be sent to federal and international officials and the Governor.
As a resolution, SR111 does not directly amend Hawaii statutes or create enforceable state law. Its practical effect is advisory and symbolic: it signals legislative support for international plastics-reduction frameworks and encourages state agencies and policymakers to consider future actions on plastic pollution, marine conservation, and climate-related policy. The resolution may influence later legislation, administrative initiatives, procurement practices, or environmental programs related to single-use plastics, waste reduction, and ocean stewardship.
The available voting record shows unanimous committee support, with both the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee and the Senate Transportation and Culture and the Arts Committee passing the measure 4-0 with amendments. That voting pattern suggests broad agreement with the resolution’s environmental and climate goals. No committee transcripts were provided, but the overall tone of the bill is strongly supportive of international cooperation, sustainability, and Pacific-centered environmental protection.
There is little visible opposition in the available record, but the resolution’s policy direction could raise concerns for stakeholders affected by plastic regulation, including manufacturers, distributors, food service businesses, and waste-management interests. Potential points of contention include the feasibility and cost of phasing out single-use plastics, the pace of packaging reduction targets, and how producer responsibility or reuse systems would be implemented. The resolution also emphasizes rights-based and indigenous-led approaches, which may be broadly supported in principle but could prompt debate over regulatory scope, economic impacts, and enforcement mechanisms if translated into future legislation.