HI SB2186

Office of Planning and Sustainable Development must establish a statewide blue carbon strategy to map, assess, and protect native coastal ecosystems including seagrass beds, salt marshes, and loko iʻa (fish ponds)

Strategy requires conducting a baseline assessment of native blue carbon ecosystems and implementing regulations to protect them from development, dredging, pollution, and other harmful activities

Report on the blue carbon strategy with findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation due to the legislature no later than twenty days before the 2027 regular session

Hawaii is not currently on track to meet its legally mandated greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for 2030 and 2045 established by Act 15 (2018) and Act 238 (2022)

Blue carbon ecosystems are identified as highly effective carbon sinks that remain largely unmapped and unregulated, with protection intended to help meet climate targets and enhance coastal resilience