The state of Hawai’i has settled a nearly two-year lawsuit filed by over a dozen youth plaintiffs who alleged that the Department of Transportation violated their constitutional rights to live healthful lives in Hawai’i now and into the future. In Navahine F. v. Hawai’i Department of Transportation (DOT), the plaintiffs argued that despite the state’s goals to be a leader in climate action, emissions from the transportation sector keep rising, with the DOT unable to hit interim benchmarks to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions since 2008.
The back-and-forth since the suit was filed in 2022 has been expensive and contentious, with the plaintiffs accusing their counterparts of using aggressive tactics. Governor Josh Green welcomed the plaintiffs to announce the settlement before trial, focusing on implementing transformative changes in Hawai’i’s transportation system to achieve net-negative emissions by 2045. The settlement does not include financial compensation but acknowledges the youths’ constitutional rights to a life-sustaining climate and the state’s commitment to take action.
The lawsuit highlighted the impact of climate change on Hawaiian youth, especially on cultural practices. The plaintiffs emphasized the urgent need for the state to address rising emissions from the transportation sector, with a focus on decarbonizing the system and investing in clean transportation. The agreement includes various actions that the Department of Transportation has committed to take in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on fossil fuels, prioritizing environmental sustainability.
