Hawaii Settles Youth Climate Lawsuit with Groundbreaking Plan to Achieve Zero Emissions by 2045

Jun 21, 2024, 03:00 PM

Hawaii has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by 13 young people who alleged that the state's transportation system was violating their constitutional rights by contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. The settlement, described as 'groundbreaking' and 'historic,' includes a commitment to decarbonize Hawaii's transportation system by 2045, achieving zero emissions in all ground transportation and interisland sea and air transportation. The plaintiffs, aged between 9 and 18 when the lawsuit was filed, claimed that climate change had reduced crop yields and threatened to put their land underwater. Governor Josh Green announced the settlement at a news conference attended by some of the activists involved in the lawsuit.