By Hawaiʻi Public Radio

In recent weeks, two devastating hurricanes hit the U.S. East Coast, causing billions of dollars in damages and the deaths of over 100 people. It's a stark reminder of how climate change is worsening storms and creating other extreme weather events.

Gov. Josh Green established a Climate Advisory Team this past May to promote resilience and recovery from future climate-related disasters. The volunteer team is looking at areas ripe for policy-making: environmental and infrastructure resilience, and physical and financial recovery.

HPR talked to team chair Chris Benjamin and member Robin Campaniano about advising the Green administration in preparation for the 2025 legislative session.

By Noel Morin for the Honolulu Civil Beat

The state is prioritizing adaptation and resiliency. Gov. Josh Green’s Climate Advisory Team is tasked with developing a climate resilience policy, strategy, and a roadmap to enable Hawaii to “mitigate the financial impact of climate change,” according to the governor’s May 2024 press release.

The release emphasizes the commitment to “maintaining stable housing and insurance markets.” The plans must include climate-proofing our homes, buildings, and infrastructure and ensuring robust disaster preparedness and recovery capacity.

By Climate Advisory Team

The Climate Advisory Team is closely reviewing the recommendations offered by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) in its Phase Two report issued earlier this month. It includes important findings from its investigation into the Maui wildfires: what happened, and what can be done to prevent future wildfire disasters of this magnitude.

This report was commissioned by the Hawaiʻi Attorney General and covers the events that occurred prior to, during, and immediately following the Lahaina fire: preparedness efforts, weather and its impact to infrastructure, and other fires occurring on Maui at the time. FSRI identified 84 findings that resulted in 140 recommendations for addressing these issues.

by Climate Advisory Team

Governor Josh Green’s Climate Advisory Team (CAT) is in the midst of conducting extensive research to gather ideas, understand issues, and inform the policy recommendations they will present for the 2025 legislative session. As of mid-September, the CAT has conducted roughly 45 meetings with groups ranging from community organizations, environmental groups, state agencies, scientists, economists, and researchers. Throughout these conversations, the CAT is particularly focused on how their policy recommendations can promote justice, climate equity, and aloha ʻāina. 

By Jamm Aquino for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser

1. Why did you accept the role of CAT chair?

I’m very concerned about the threats that natural disasters pose. That’s why I am so encouraged that the Governor wants to give the issue the attention of this committee and its experts, in order to develop concrete solutions. Hawai‘i is particularly vulnerable to climate change, and I’ve devoted my time since retirement to addressing its risks.

By Honolulu Star-Advertiser Editorial Board

Climate change, the global environmental crisis that people once perceived as a faraway worry, is now confronting Hawaii, especially as it affects sea-level rise. Adapting to the threats and curbing their impacts, though, will be a multiple-generational mission.

That’s why the establishment of a high-level Climate Advisory Team (CAT) for the state is an excellent foundational step, and the initial fact-gathering efforts will be crucial in coordinating planning across community, business and government institutions.

By Andrew Gomes for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Gov. Josh Green created a tough assignment in May for the retired leader of a Hawaii real estate investment firm to assemble a team that can recommend policies to minimize climate-related natural disaster impacts in the state.

Now, this six-person volunteer group with expertise in areas that include climate change, environmental law and insurance faces a tough phase of work: coming up with initial results.

Green’s Climate Advisory Team, led by retired Alexander & Baldwin Inc. CEO Chris Benjamin, is about to move from information gathering to crafting solutions that initially will focus on a package of draft bills for the governor to submit for consideration in the upcoming legislative session that begins in January.

Team to Produce Policy Guidance for Climate Resilience and Disaster Recovery

In July 2024, Governor Josh Green, M.D., announced the full slate of members for the Climate Advisory Team (CAT) led by Chris Benjamin, chair of Climate Hawai‘i and a special advisor to the Governor.