Thus, Hawaii becomes
the first US state to exact a “green fee,” a 0.75% surcharge to the hotel room
and vacation rental tax. This measure, signed into law by Governor Josh Green, aims to generate
approximately $100 million annually to fund environmental protection and
climate resilience projects.
“Hawaii Imposes The
Nation’s First Climate Change Tax For Tourists – And It's Expected To Generate $100
Million Annually,” Charlotte Philipp
(30 May 2025, Yahoo!News, sg.news.yahoo.com). Ms Charlotte says:
“Legislators in
Hawaii are implementing a hefty tax on tourism that they believe will help the
state government take action against Climate Change.
“Known as the
first ever "Green Fee" in the country, Hawaii's Act 96 will raise the
state's current transient accommodations tax… to 11% … travelers staying in a
hotel room that costs $300 per night will have to pay (an additional) $2.25.”
“The money will
then be used for civic projects such as replenishing sand on eroding beaches in
Waikiki, implementing hurricane clips to secure roofs, and clearing flammable
brush that contributed to the 2023 wildfire.”
According to the
Associated Press and USA Today,the bill “increased tax on hotel room, vacation
rentals and cruise ships to raise money to be used for issues such as eroding
shorelines, wildfires and more.” The tax will go into effect on 1 Jan 2026.
"Once again,
Hawai'i is at the forefront of protecting our natural resources, recognizing
their fundamental role in sustaining the ecological, cultural and economic health
of Hawai'i," Green said in a statement. "As an island chain, Hawai'i
cannot wait for the next disaster to hit before taking action. We must build
resiliency now, and the Green Fee will provide the necessary financing to
ensure resources are available for our future."
Not sold! Instead, I am thinking of my dear
Philippines taxing farmers heavily for the use of chemical fertilizers and
pesticides – two big sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that produce the
so-called “Climate Change” as they accumulate in the high atmosphere and
reflect the heat back to Earth. It is the Earth that is heating the Earth – but
that is because of those GHGs that the ab/uses of chemical fertilizers and
pesticides result into.
The news did not
mention what Hawaii farmers will do to contribute to the decrease of Climate
Change, but they should too. I refer now to my country the Philippines, which
had a farm area of 9.9 million ha in 1991, and that had decreased to 6.16
million in 2022 (businessmirror.com.ph).
And how does
Climate Change destroy farms? It erodes, floods and sweep away soils, even
landmarks. The farmer is to blame for Climate Change destroying his farming,
his livelihood! The farmers should help themselves by rejecting Chemical Agriculture!@517
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