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10mo ago

Hawaii Settles Historic Climate Lawsuit with Youth Plaintiffs

The agreement mandates zero emissions in transportation by 2045, marking a significant legal precedent.

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Youth plaintiffs gather before the start of the Navahine F. v. the Hawai'i Department of Transportation hearing at the First Circuit Environmental Court in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, on January 26, 2023. Pictured left to right: Ka’ōnohi P.-G., 16, Kawahine‘Ilikea N., 13, Taliya N., 15, Navahine F., 15, Mesina D.-R., 15, Kalā W., 19, Rylee K., 15, and Kawena F., 10.
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Overview

  • Hawaii's settlement with 13 young plaintiffs requires a complete decarbonization of the state's transportation sector within 21 years.
  • The case, Navahine v. Hawaii Department of Transportation, is the first youth-led constitutional climate lawsuit addressing transportation emissions.
  • Key settlement terms include a greenhouse gas reduction plan within a year and a $40 million investment in public electric vehicle infrastructure by 2030.
  • The state must also develop pedestrian, bicycle, and transit networks within five years in collaboration with local counties.
  • This settlement follows similar youth-led climate cases in Montana and Oregon, reflecting a growing legal movement worldwide.