President Barack Obama appointed Gov. Neil Abercrombie to serve on the recently created Climate Preparedness and Resilience Task Force made up of 26 elected officials from around the nation, the White House and the Governor’s Office announced Friday.
Abercrombie, noting the state’s adaptation to the prospect of rising sea levels, mapping and hazard mitigation tools, ocean resources management plan and coastal lands and beach erosion programs, said Hawaii has a unique voice and that he’s excited to play a role in presenting that voice to national leaders.
"Each area, each region, has its own unique circumstances," he said in a news conference held at the state Capitol. "So while there’s individual approaches that need to be taken, given regional variations, climate change nonetheless affects each of them on a global basis. So we’ll try to integrate that."
The purpose of the task force is to advise the Obama administration on how the government can better assist communities grappling with the impacts of climate change, according to a White House news release.
Obama called for the task force as part of his Climate Action Plan announced in June. Members of the short-term task force are expected to present recommendations to the president within a year.
William Aila Jr., director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Office of Planning Director Jesse Souki joined Abercrombie at the news conference.
"This is an opportunity for Hawaii to be a national leader," Aila said. "As an island state we have unique challenges, we have unique solutions, and I’m sure that the nation will be happy to learn of the initiatives that we have here and adopt some of the strategies that we’ve set into place."
Seven other governors, including Gov. Eddie Calvo of Guam; 14 mayors; two county officials; and two tribal leaders will also serve on the task force, which will be led by Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Director David Agnew and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chairwoman Nancy Sutley.
Abercrombie also used the news conference to announce the state’s newly appointed sustainability coordinator, Jacqueline Kozak Thiel.
As the state’s first sustainability coordinator, Kozak Thiel will work with state departments, counties, federal agencies and community partners to make progress on Hawaii’s sustainability goals.
"Even though our islands are extremely vulnerable to climate change, I truly believe that we can build a sustainable and resilient future," she said.
