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HI HCR197
Concurrent Resolution
Status
3/8/2024
Primary Sponsor
Lisa Marten
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AI Summary
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Requests the Attorney General file a lawsuit against major oil corporations (BP, Chevron, Eni, ExxonMobil, Shell, and Total Energies) for climate damages to Hawaii.
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Cites these six companies as accounting for nearly 23 percent of the cumulative global carbon footprint in the oil refining sector according to the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment.
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Identifies climate change damages to the state including infrastructure costs from sea level rise, marine resource losses from ocean acidification, and expenses for cooling state buildings and disaster recovery.
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Notes the Hawaii Supreme Court rejected defendants' arguments in October 2023 that oil companies lack state court jurisdiction and that public nuisance claims for climate damages are invalid under Hawaii law.
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Directs the Attorney General to engage a third-party law firm with expertise in climate litigation and requires certified copies of the resolution be sent to the Governor and Attorney General.
Legislative Description
Requesting The Attorney General To File A Lawsuit Against Big Oil Corporations For Climate Damages To The State And Engage A Third-party Law Firm That Has Expertise In This Legal Area.
Attorney General
Last Action
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Pierick voting no (2) and Representative(s) Evslin, Garrett, Kila, Lamosao, Martinez, Nakashima, Quinlan excused (7).
3/22/2024