{"id":8124,"date":"2012-10-24T16:56:26","date_gmt":"2012-10-24T16:56:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rtcc.org\/?p=8124"},"modified":"2012-10-24T16:56:26","modified_gmt":"2012-10-24T16:56:26","slug":"hawaiis-green-blue-economy-tackles-climate-change-challenges-head-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.climatechangenews.com\/2012\/10\/24\/hawaiis-green-blue-economy-tackles-climate-change-challenges-head-on\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawaii’s Green Blue economy tackles climate change challenges head-on"},"content":{"rendered":"

By John Parnell<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hawaii is\u00a0targeting\u00a0a Green Blue Economy as it tackles its energy and food security problems, according to Jacqueline Kozak, part of the islands\u2019 delegation at a recent UN environmental summit.<\/strong><\/p>\n

With pressures on food security and a reliance on imported energy, Kozak believes the response of Hawaii can set an example for the wider world.<\/p>\n

\u201cIslands are a microcosm of the planet and the [environmental] challenges facing islands are felt more urgently and first,\u201d said Kozak, who is also a member of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe urgency of our food, energy security and our biodiversity loss has really motivated us to find innovative and integrated approaches to a more sustainable future for Hawaii.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kozak says the islands\u2019 pursuit of a \u201cGreen Blue Economy\u201d with sustainability and water at its core<\/a>, is the\u00a0cornerstone\u00a0of its policies.<\/p>\n

“When Captain Cook landed in Hawaii there were 1m indigenous people living self-sufficiently.Now we are dependent on imports and we have an enormous problem with affordability<\/a> because we have to import everything,” said Kozak.<\/p>\n

The Islands have a 40% renewable energy a target and a 30% energy efficiency goal by 2030. It currently imports 90% of all its energy.<\/p>\n

Local food production will also be doubled in effort to reduce its food imports that currently account for 85% of the island\u2019s consumption.<\/p>\n

Protecting freshwater supplies will be key to enabling the state\u2019s agriculture sector to flourish, according to Kozak.<\/p>\n

The islands\u2019 Governor Neil Abercrombie, was elected on a sustainability ticket and is spearheading many of Hawaii\u2019s efforts.<\/p>\n

Hawaii is also part of the Ecoislands<\/a> initiative, recently launched on the UK\u2019s Isle of Wight.<\/p>\n

RTCC Video: Jacqueline Kozak on Hawaii’s\u00a0sustainable\u00a0push for self sufficiency<\/strong><\/p>\n