Hawaii legislators approved an innovative bill that will impose a small tax on visitors in an effort to protect the islands from the growing risks of a heating planet.
The funds generated by this “green rate”, as it is called, will be used to invest in projects to combat climate change and loss of Stem biodiversity, including the restoration of native ecosystems such as coral reefs and native forests such as those who like those who like those who refer to those who like those who like those who like those who like 2023.
“When we started the trip, it was really an idea of a moon,” said Jack Kittinger, who directs the regenerative economies in Conservation International. Kittinger lives in Hawaii and has worked to support the initiative since its inception in 2018.
“While we worked on this, it was increasingly clear that this was necessary for our survival,” he said.
With 1.4 million residents and 10 million visitors every year, Hawaii’s communities and infrastructure are emphasized both by tourism and the growing climate emergency.
“Like many island communities, Hawai’i is at the forefront of the climatic crisis,” Kittinger said. “The tragedy of the forest fire of Lahaina made it apparent in the most painful way.
This bill gives us the opportunity to reduce our climatic risk and remodel our tourism sector. “
The bill adds an additional 0.75 percent to the existing hotel tax and applies to travelers who remain in hotels and stays for short -term rent. The legislation also, for the first time, applies this tax to visitors who arrive in Hawai’i on cruises.
The administration of Governor Josh Green, who campaigned on the subject, estimates that the legislation will bring US $ 100 million annually to support biodiversity on the islands and strengthen climate resistance.
Hawai’i, known as the endangered species and the capital of invasive species in the world, has long fought to finance their environmental and conservation needs, which are amplified by the number of tourists visiting the island.
Kittinger says that the idea that tourists intervene have gained support since the idea was introduced, including the support of the tourists themselves.
“We survey visitors, and most quickly and fixed with most people visiting Hawai’i want to be able to pay with the support of a green rate,” he said. “The islands have unique vulnerabilities, and in Hawaii, where tourism is the main industry, if you do not take care of the environment, that creates a long -term vulnerability for the industry and communities equally.”
Hawaii’s natural wonders contribute more than US $ 6 billion to the state economy every year, but only 1 percent of the annual state budget goes to the environment.
Conservation International helped provoke the initiative more than six years ago, authorizing an analysis of a green rate, based on successes in other places. A recent Care study for ʻāina now, a coalition of non -profit and local companies that has worked to approve the bill, estimates that Hawai’i has an annual conservation financing gap or at least $ 560 million, but high of US $ $ $ $. $ 1.7.
“We are not going to fill a US $ 560 million gap a year with a new law,” said Kittinger, co -author of the study. “But if we can generate US $ 100 million, that is a consistent amount that we can amplify through other conservation financing approaches of a green bond.
From delays that have to the mortal forest fires of Lahaina, the effort faced many challenges on the road, he said. However, each of these events deepened the impulse to create a resistant and regenerative economy.
“We have to do things according to the scale of the challenges we face,” Kittinger said. “This will give us a chance of struggle.”
Mary Kate McCoy is a personnel writer at Conservation International. Why read more stories like this? Register to obtain updates by email. In addition, please support our critical work.
