HI SR99

Hawaii Senate engages, endorses, accepts, and adopts the Aarhus Convention, a United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making, and access to justice in environmental matters.

The Aarhus Convention addresses six key areas: access to environmental information, collection and dissemination of environmental information, public participation in decisions on specific activities, public participation in plans and policies relating to the environment, public participation in preparation of executive regulations, and access to justice.

Requests the United States Congress to embrace the Aarhus Convention and make environmental protection and decision-making on environmental policies a centerpiece of national debate and practice.

Directs transmission of certified copies of the resolution to the President, Vice President, congressional leadership, Hawaii's congressional delegation, Governor, county mayors, United Nations Secretary General, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission.

Aligns Hawaii's governance with international human rights standards, the Paris Agreement, and the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.