Hawaii State Legislature

House of Representatives

Lyla B. Berg

18th Representative District

Hawaii State Capitol, Room 324

415 South Beretania Street ~ Honolulu, Hawai`I 96813

Cell Phone 808-754-0044 ~ fax 808-586-6511

Email: repberg@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Web site: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/House/Members/Rep18.asp

MEDIA RELEASE

REPRESENTATIVE LYLA BERG TO ATTEND WHITEHOUSE

TASK FORCE MEETING ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Berg Is One Of Two Delegates From Hawai`i To The Association of Pacific Island Legislators

HONOLULU: JULY 9, 2010 -- Hawai`i State Representative Lyla Berg will be attending today's special meeting of President Obama's Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force Public Meeting at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai`i. Berg is one of the two Delegates to the Association of Pacific Island Legislators representing Hawai`i and other Pacific island nations. U.S. Senator Dan Inouye is expected toattend and the event will be broadcast &streamed live to an international audience (access information below).

Representative Berg said, "The convening of this meeting in Hawai`i is a clear indicator that our State plays a significant strategic role in the eyes of many world leaders. The impact of climate change on our islands compromises our water sources, our way of life, and our future safety. What affects Hawaii will also impact the Pacific Rim nations and I am pleased to be attending this important meeting and I welcome this unique opportunity to exchange information with my Pacific Island colleagues."

The Whitehouse Task Force meeting is being organized and co-hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of Interior. The session "…is an opportunity for senior members of the Obama Administration to hear local and regional ideas, questions and concerns about climate change impacts in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, and to describe federal planning efforts already underway."

BACKGROUND

In 2009, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration initiated the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force, which includes representatives from more than 20 Federal Agencies. When the President signed the Executive Order on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance, on October 5, 2009, he called on the Task Force to develop, within one year, Federal recommendations for adapting to climate change impacts both domestically and internationally.

On March 16, 2010, the Task Force released an interim report which outlines progress to date and recommends key components to include in a national strategy on climate change adaptation. The Interim Progress Report can be viewed online at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/adaptation and

the original Whitehouse media release at: <http://ndptc.hawaii.edu/images/news/ClimateChange.pdf>

WHEN

Friday, July 9, 2010; 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., (Public Comments 2:50 p.m.to <http://p.m.to> 4:25 p.m. HST)

WHERE

University of Hawaii at Manoa

East-West Center, Imin Conference Center

Keoni Auditorium

1777 East-West Road

Honolulu, Hawaii 96848

(Parking: approx. 85 free spots will be provided on the grounds adjacent to Imin. Additional parking available in the Quarry lot.)

WEBCAST VENUES

Live Webcast: http://wh-ceq.tipg.net <http://wh-ceq.tipg.net/> and http://www.wh-ceq.tipg.net <http://www.wh-ceq.tipg.net/>

Interactive Live Broadcasts by PEACESAT at the following locations (all times are local)

East-West Center, Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa (July 9, 2010, 1- 4:30 p.m.)

Imin Conference Center, Keoni Auditorium

1777 East-West Road

Honolulu, HI 96822

(contact Marshall Kingsbury, 808-944-7171)

Maui Community College Ka`a`ike 103 (July 9, 2010, 1-4:30 p.m.)

310 Ka'ahumanu Ave.

Kahului, HI 96732-1617

(contact Mike Albert, 808-984-3620)

Kauai Community College LRC 121 (July 9, 2010, 1-4:30 p.m.)

3-1901 Kaumuali´i Highway

Lihue, HI 96766

(contact Patrick Watase, 808-245-8357)

UH-Hilo LRC 344 (July 9, 2010, 1-4:30 p.m.)

200 W. Kawili St.

Library Building 3rd Floor

Hilo, HI 96720-4091

(contact David Scott, 808-974-7573)

ASPA Tafuna Conference Room (July 9, 2010, 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)

American Samoa Power Authority

P.O. Box PPB

Pago Pago, AS 96799

(contact Tiresa Lutu, 684-699-8829)

University of Guam SCI 120 (July 10, 2010, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)

P.O. Box 5278

Mangilao, GU 96923

(contact Bruce Best, 671-735-2620)

CNMI PSS NOC (July 10, 2010, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)

P.O. Box 501370

Saipan, MP 96950

(contact Reynaldo Susulin, 670-237-3039)

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