Hawaiʻi Leaders Speak Out on Trump’s Order to Reverse Climate Change Policy

President Donald Trump signed an executive order reversing policies aimed at fighting climate change today.

Trump’s order attempts to roll back Obama’s policies on power plant emissions limits, coal mining on federal lands, and regulations on fracking and methane in an effort, the Trump administration says, to prioritize American jobs above addressing climate change.

Brian Schatz. PC: Dec. 2016 by Wendy Osher.

US Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), co-chair of the Senate Climate Action Task Force, released the following statement:

“President Trump’s latest executive order reverses the historic progress we’ve made on climate for short-term gains that will go straight into the pockets of oil, gas, and coal companies. This is another attempt by this administration to weaken environmental protections and America’s leadership and economic dominance in clean energy. Now is not the time to turn our back on the growing clean energy economy, and that’s exactly what this executive order will do.”

US Senator Mazie Hirono also spoke out against the President’s executive order rolling back environmental protections and clean energy resources saying:

“This executive order is clear proof that this Administration is not committed to an ‘all of the above’ energy strategy. The President continues to promote alternative facts over empirical scientific evidence of climate change and unravel the clean and renewable energy progress that we have made over the past eight years.

“While the President can afford to live in this alternate universe, Hawaiʻi and other island communities are forced to grapple with the reality of climate change. Our coral reefs are dying because of historically high ocean temperatures. By 2100, Hawaiʻi’s sea levels will rise by more than three feet. We owe it to our keiki to listen to our climate scientists, and build upon, not erase, the progress we’ve made.”

US Representative Tulsi Gabbard provided comments this afternoon saying:

“In light of President Trump’s Executive Order paving the path for the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines, and slashing funding for the EPA by nearly one-third, the consequence of today’s actions on our environment and precious water resources are especially concerning. Unless we make a concerted effort to reduce carbon emissions, invest in clean energy, create green jobs, and improve our air and water quality, we are moving backwards, at a time when our planet simply cannot afford for us to do so. In spite of this action today, I have no doubt that Hawaiʻi will continue to lead the nation in renewable energy production. We must continue investing in renewable energy, moving away from foreign oil and fossil fuels, and moving toward our goal of 100% clean energy by 2045.”