Hawai‘i Leaders Weigh In on Biden’s Executive Order to Rejoin Paris Agreement

​On the same day as his inauguration, newly sworn-in President Joe Biden issued an executive order, rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement.

Hawaiʻi Governor David Ige welcomed the news saying, “The climate crisis is a global challenge and a global opportunity, one for which the United States is ready to resume its mantle thanks to the persistent leadership of Hawaiʻi and our fellow states.”

He continued saying, “Hawaiʻi is a national leader in climate action, embracing the principles and goals of the Paris Agreement in law and igniting a race to 100% renewable electricity among the states and around the world. Even with the most dire economic conditions since World War II, Hawai‘i is on track to become a resilient, carbon-free economy. We stand ready to work with President Biden and his new administration.”

US Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) also lauded the presidential action saying it sends a “strong signal to the world: America is back.”

“During our absence from the world stage, the climate crisis has only grown more dire. We’re already seeing the devastating effects of climate impacts here at home and abroad. While US cities, states, and businesses have remained committed to the Agreement’s goals, most nations are not on track to reach the targets we set five years ago,” said Sen. Schatz.

Senator Schatz, who attended the 2015 Paris Climate Talks as a representative of the US Senate, and he chaired the Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis in the 116th Congress continued:

“Solving this planetary emergency now demands urgent, unprecedented cooperation on a global scale — and that depends on renewed American leadership. Under this new Administration, we will bring the global community back to the table and rally the world around the bigger, bolder climate action we need to win this fight,” he said.

Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English (District 7 – Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi and Kahoʻolawe) issued the following statement applauding President Joseph R. Biden’s executive order recommitting the United States to the Paris Climate Accord:

“We applaud President Biden for recommitting the United States to the Paris Climate Accord. In 2017, Hawaiʻi passed my bill – SB559 (Act 032) – making Hawaiʻi the first State in the union to implement the goals of the Paris Climate Accord.

We are vulnurable to the ravages of climate change and Hawaiʻi must act now to protect our environment for future generations. I look forward to continue working with my colleagues to ensure that Hawaiʻi remains a global leader in the fight against climate change.”