Editorial: Time is now for climate action

By Honolulu Star-Advertiser Editorial Board

The 2025 Hawaii Legislature’s opening day is Wednesday, but consider the session already begun, as Gov. Josh Green has a big-ticket package of requests for funding and legislation in the queue. Among them: another go at reserving a dedicated fund to pay for disaster response, infrastructure needs and environmental repair, pressing needs that have been grievously shunted aside in the past.

The difference this year is that climate change and related environmental disasters are “in your face” — intensifying and increasingly damaging, in Hawaii and worldwide, and will remain so. Disasters once thought inconceivable — such as the roaring fires that disastrously swept across portions of Los Angeles just days ago, and the drought- and storm-propelled fire that destroyed Lahaina in 2023 — make it impossible to ignore the intensifying threats.

This year, the Legislature must act, for the good of these islands — and because the cost of inaction could be immeasurable. Delaying action will not only cost more over time, it would also be an irresponsible abandonment of Hawaii’s people and environment to the risk of potential damage that can never be recovered.

Click here to read the full story in the January 12 Honolulu Star-Advertiser.