On Politics: Hyperactive Gov. Green moves on SNAP cuts, climate woes – Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Report on Hawaii’s Gubernatorial Actions in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Climate Action and Sustainable Financing Initiatives

The administration of Hawaii’s Governor, Josh Green, has garnered national recognition for its proactive stance on climate change, directly addressing several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The governor’s inclusion in a Time Magazine feature highlights the state’s commitment to influencing the climate economy through targeted policy and investment.

• Policy Initiative: Hawaii has become the first U.S. state to implement a visitor green fee.
• Financial Impact: This policy is projected to generate approximately $100 million annually.
• Stated Purpose: The funds are earmarked for environmental restoration and climate adaptation support, enhancing community health and the resilience of natural resources.

These efforts demonstrate a strategic approach to achieving the following SDGs:

1. SDG 13: Climate Action: The core objective of the green fee is to fund climate adaptation and mitigation efforts, building resilience against climate-related hazards.
2. SDG 14: Life Below Water & SDG 15: Life on Land: Revenue will directly support the restoration of natural environmental resources, crucial for protecting Hawaii’s unique marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By investing in natural defenses and community resilience, the initiative strengthens the state’s capacity to withstand environmental shocks.

Emergency Response to Uphold Social Welfare Goals

In response to a federal government funding crisis, the Governor has issued an emergency proclamation to address a significant threat to social welfare, particularly food security. The cessation of federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has created an urgent challenge to fundamental human needs within the state.

• Affected Population: An estimated 165,000 individuals in Hawaii are impacted by the loss of SNAP benefits.
• Economic Disruption: The state faces a monthly shortfall of approximately $57.7 million in federal food assistance.
• Gubernatorial Action: An emergency proclamation was issued to mobilize state resources and provide support services for affected families. This includes a $2 million transfer to the Hawaii Foodbank and the establishment of a dedicated call center.

The state’s intervention is a direct effort to uphold principles enshrined in the SDGs, despite challenges at the federal level:

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The primary goal of the emergency action is to prevent food insecurity and ensure that vulnerable populations have access to food.
2. SDG 1: No Poverty: By supplementing food resources, the state is working to mitigate a key driver of poverty and prevent families from falling into economic distress.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The response targets those most affected by the funding shutdown, aiming to reduce the immediate inequality in access to basic necessities.
4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The governor’s decisive action demonstrates the role of effective and responsive state-level institutions in protecting citizens when federal systems falter.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article directly addresses this goal by highlighting the food crisis in Hawaii caused by the shutdown of the federal government. It discusses the impact on 165,000 individuals who depend on SNAP benefits (food stamps) and the resulting “food insecurity.” The governor’s emergency proclamation and allocation of funds to the Hawaii Foodbank are direct actions to combat hunger.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • This goal is a central theme of the first half of the article. It features Governor Josh Green’s recognition as a leader in “climate change reform.” His statements emphasize the need for “greater public investment in climate adaptation efforts” and building “community health and resilience” in the face of Hawaii’s “continuing climate crisis.”
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The article connects to this goal through the specific use of funds generated by the new “visitor green fee.” The revenue is earmarked for “environmental restoration efforts” and “restoring natural environmental resources and defenses,” which are core components of protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • This goal is relevant in two ways. First, the creation of a “visitor green fee” is an innovative form of domestic resource mobilization to finance sustainable development. Second, the state’s action to transfer “$2 million… from the Human Services Department to the Hawaii Foodbank” is a clear example of a public-civil society partnership to achieve a common goal (addressing food insecurity).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)
   • Target 2.1: “By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.” The article directly relates to this target by describing the emergency measures taken to prevent hunger for the “165,000 individuals in Hawaii who depend on SNAP benefits” after federal funding was cut. The governor’s statement, “No one should go hungry,” reinforces this connection.
2. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action)
   • Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” The governor’s call for “greater public investment in climate adaptation efforts” and using the green fee for “adaptation support” and to enhance “community health and resilience” directly aligns with this target.
   • Target 13.a: “Implement the commitment… to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually… to address the needs of developing countries…” While Hawaii is not a developing country, the principle of mobilizing finance for climate action is central. The article’s mention of the green fee generating “$100 million annually to fund environmental restoration efforts and adaptation support” is a specific example of financial mobilization for climate action.
3. Under SDG 15 (Life on Land)
   • Target 15.1: “By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services…” The article’s description of the green fee’s purpose, which is to “fund environmental restoration efforts” and the “restoring natural environmental resources and defenses,” directly supports this target of ecosystem restoration.
4. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)
   • Target 17.1: “Strengthen domestic resource mobilization… to improve domestic capacity for tax and other revenue collection.” The implementation of the “visitor green fee” is a textbook example of a state creating a new domestic revenue stream specifically to fund sustainable development initiatives.
   • Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The state government’s decision to move “$2 million… to the Hawaii Foodbank” demonstrates a public-civil society partnership to address the food crisis.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)
   • Number of people at risk of food insecurity: The article explicitly states that “165,000 individuals in Hawaii who depend on SNAP benefits” are facing food insecurity. This number serves as a direct indicator of the scale of the problem.
   • Value of food assistance benefits: The article mentions that “$57,695,553 per month in SNAP benefits was issued in Hawaii.” This financial figure is an indicator of the level of support required to prevent hunger.
   • Amount of emergency funding allocated: The state’s allocation of “$2 million… to the Hawaii Foodbank” is a measurable indicator of the government’s response to the crisis.
2. Indicators for SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land)
   • Amount of mobilized finance for climate/environmental action: The article provides a clear indicator by stating the visitor green fee “will generate $100 million annually.” This figure can be used to track the financial resources dedicated to climate adaptation and environmental restoration.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

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