The State of Hawaii recently agreed to take action to decarbonize its transportation system after 13 children in 2022 alleged that the state was violating their rights with infrastructure that contributes to greenhouse gas emissions under the Hawaii Constitution.

 

Governor Josh Green announced the settlement at a news conference where some of the activists and lawyers were in attendance. If the case had gone to trial, it would have been the second-ever trial in the US of a lawsuit by young people that a state's actions violated their rights. With that, Hawaii will develop a roadmap to achieve zero emissions through public transportation by 2045.
The legally enforceable agreement calls for the creation of a volunteer youth council to advise the state Department of Transportation. At the time of the filing, the plaintiffs were ages 9 to 18 and argued that the state was violating a right to "conserve and protect Hawaii's natural beauty and all natural resources."

The lawsuit cited that the rights are granted under the public trust doctrine and the constitution. This doctrine states that public natural resources are held by the state in trust for the people.

Further, bicycle, transit, and pedestrian networks will need to be completed in five years under this settlement. Also, the state is dedicating $40 million to the expansion of the public electric vehicle charging network by 2030.