The Governor of Hawai'i, David Ige and the state's county mayors and representatives have signed two bills and a mayors' agreement to support the commitments and goals of the Paris climate accord.
Hawai'i is the first state in the United States to enact legislation to implement portions of the Paris agreement.
The bills will expand strategies and mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and establish a Carbon Farming Task Force to identify agricultural and aquacultural practices to improve soil health and promote carbon capture and the long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide to mitigate climate change.
Hawaii Governor David Ige (L) shakes hands with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Abe's official residence in Tokyo on June 16, 2015. Photo: TORU HANAI / POOL / AFP
Governor Ige said Hawai'i was committed to environmental stewardship and looked forward to working with other states to fight global climate change.
In addition, Honolulu's Mayor Kirk Caldwell and representatives for the Hawai'i Island Mayor Harry Kim, the Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, and Kaua'i Mayor Bernard Carvalho signed a statement declaring their commitment to continue supporting of the Paris agreement.