Youth Activists Secure Landmark Climate Agreement for Zero Emissions in Hawaii

A groundbreaking legal settlement in Hawaii, driven by 13 young climate activists, mandates the state’s Department of Transportation to achieve zero emissions across all transportation modes by 2045. The settlement emerged from the 2022 lawsuit, Navahine F v. Hawaii Department of Transportation, which argued that the state’s prioritization of fossil fuel-based transportation projects violated the constitutional rights of the plaintiffs to a clean and healthful environment. Hawaii Governor Josh Green lauded the activists for mobilizing the state toward aggressive climate action, emphasizing the importance of this legally binding commitment to transforming Hawaii’s transportation infrastructure.

The historic agreement will require Hawaii officials to devise a comprehensive roadmap to fully decarbonize ground, sea, and inter-island air transportation. The legal settlement is a significant win in the broader movement for Indigenous and youth-led climate activism, particularly as it integrates young people into advisory roles to ensure the state’s adherence to the zero-emissions target. This effort is part of a wider national push for food and climate sovereignty, with states like Montana achieving similar legal victories that underscore the constitutional right to a clean environment.

Despite Hawaii’s progressive climate policies, including goals to decarbonize its power sector by 2045 and make state vehicles carbon-free by 2035, recent years have seen setbacks in emissions reductions. The new settlement, however, is expected to catalyze substantial progress by holding the state accountable through judicial oversight until the zero-emission goals are met. The cooperative nature of this agreement, involving diverse stakeholders from government officials to young activists, exemplifies a unified approach necessary for addressing the climate crisis in Hawaii’s unique island context.