Hawaii Greenhouse Gas Program

New Release:  Hawaii Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report for 2020 and 2021, Final Report (dated May 2024)

The Department of Health has established the Hawaii Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Program to combat the threat of climate change and sea level rise.  The program utilizes the Air Pollution Control Permit process of the Clean Air Branch to regulate GHG emissions statewide.  The Hawaii GHG program works in conjunction with other Federal and Hawaii State programs to mitigate GHGs.

Related Legislation

Act 234 of the 2007 Legislature established the foundation for the Hawaii GHG Program.  It declared a policy to reduce GHG emissions statewide to 1990 levels by 2020.  Act 15 of the 2018 Legislature established a statewide carbon net-negative goal by 2045.  Act 238 of the 2022 Legislature established a goal for the level of statewide GHG emissions to be at least 50 percent below 2005 levels by the year 2030 (including airplane emissions).

On June 30, 2014, Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), Chapter 11-60.1 was amended to adopt the new Hawaii GHG program.  The main requirements of the program are set forth in Subchapter 11, Greenhouse Gas Emissions. During promulgation, public comments were solicited and received and a response to comments was provided.

Emissions Cap for Large Existing Covered Sources

To reduce GHGs, the rules specify a 16% GHG emission cap for large existing stationary sources (“affected sources”) with potential carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions at or above 100,000 tons per year.  Each affected source must submit a GHG emission reduction plan for establishing measures that will be used to meet the emission cap.  The approved GHG emission cap and associated monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting provisions will be made part of the facility’s covered source permit.  The deadline for submitting GHG emission reduction plans was June 30, 2015. See the Instructions for GHG Emission Reduction Plan (PDF). The Clean Air Branch has received GHG emission reduction plans from all affected facilities for incorporating GHG emission caps into the air permits pursuant to HAR §11-60.1-204(d)(6)(C).

GHG Annual Fees for All Covered Sources

Beginning in 2015, GHG emissions must be included in the calculations to determine annual fees for all facilities holding a covered source permit. Utilize GHG emissions factors and global warming potentials to calculate your CO2e emissions for covered source permit fees.

Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories

HAR §11-60.1-204(k) requires the Department of Health to provide reports with updated GHG emissions inventories showing progress towards achieving statewide GHG reduction goals.

Emission inventory reports for Hawaii showing statewide CO2 Eq emissions and sinks (GHG removals) are provided in the links below. The most recent 2020 and 2021 report dated April 2024 was prepared by ICF and the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO) for the Department of Health. The GHG emission inventories serve as a basis for decision making and provide direction in future GHG reduction efforts.

The statewide GHG emission limit of 15.48 million metric tons (MMT) CO2 Eq. based upon 1990 emissions levels as specified in Act 234 has been attained (2020 GHG emissions = 11.54 MMT CO2 Eq.). Statewide GHG projections of 12.01 MMT, 7.23 MMT, and 4.61 MMT CO2 Eq. for 2025, 2035, and 2045, respectively, indicate Hawaii is on target to continue to meet its statewide GHG emissions limit after 2020. Act 15 and Act 238 emissions limits are not projected to be met in goal years 2030 and 2045, respectively. These findings will be reassessed and updated in the forthcoming emissions report for 2022.

Hawaii Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory for 2020 and 2021:

Inventories from Previous Years

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Scott Takamoto or Mr. Mike Madsen of the Clean Air Branch at (808) 586-4200.

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