13 Teens & Kids Win Landmark Climate Victory: Agrees to Decarbonize Hawaii’s Transportation via 2042

Thirteen children and teens in Hawaii have successfully settled with the state government to decarbonize Hawaii’s transportation system over the next two decades, emphasizing the importance of a sustainable environment and constitutional rights in the fight against climate change.

According to the article of CBS News, thirteen children and teens in Hawaii have won a big legal battle with the state government about climate change. They reached an agreement focusing on how to decarbonize Hawaii’s transportation system making it eco-friendly over the next 20 years. This is a big win for the young people fighting for a healthier environment and shows how important it is for kids to have a climate that supports life, as mentioned by Gov. Josh Green and legal teams from Our Children’s Trust and Earthjustice.

The kids in the Decarbonize Hawaii’s transportation case argued that Hawaii’s way of moving people around was harming the environment and not keeping it clean and safe. They pointed out that the Hawaii Department of Transportation was more interested in building highways than using greener ways of travel. Since burning fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal is a major cause of climate change, Hawaii’s heavy use of petroleum for energy shows why it’s crucial to reduce carbon emissions, as stressed by Our Children’s Trust. This settlement is groundbreaking as it’s the first where a state government and young people have worked together to address climate change problems based on laws.

The settlement includes important steps like creating a plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions within a year to make Hawaii’s transport system carbon-neutral by 2042. It also involves making significant investments in clean transportation, like improving walking and biking paths and expanding electric vehicle charging stations for the public. Moreover, a group of young volunteers will team up with the Department of Transportation to join forces in fighting climate change and supporting sustainable practices.