County of Maui
Public Information Office

200 South High Street
Wailuku, Hawai`i 96793-2155
Phone: (808) 270-7855
Fax: (808) 270-7870

Brian Perry
Communications Director

Ryan Piros & Chris Sugidono
Asst. Communications Directors

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
October 29, 2019
MAUI COUNTY TO HOLD FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE
FOR COSTS & CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Mayor Victorino Announces Planned Lawsuit to Protect Taxpayers
Mayor Michael Victorino announced today his intention that Maui County
file suit against fossil fuel companies for the mounting impacts of climate
change and rising sea levels. Maui County has four islands and more than
200 miles of coastline. There is no date set yet for filing the lawsuit.
“So far this year, brush fires have devoured about 23,000 acres – almost
six times more wild land than the approximately 4,000 acres in all of 2018,
and we still have two more months before the end of this year,” Mayor
Victorino said. “This lawsuit is about accountability. Fossil fuel companies
knew – their own experts warned them – about the potentially ‘severe’ or
‘catastrophic’ effects of doing business as usual, and the damage that
could be caused by producing, marketing and selling their products.”
“Fossil fuel companies could have taken steps to reduce damage or warn
people about the danger from continued use of products that harm the
environment,” Mayor Victorino said. “Instead, they’ve promoted and
marketed their products and made billions in profits, all the while protecting
their own assets from the damages they knew would occur. They’ve
undertaken a campaign to undermine their own science that predicted
global warming and its devastating impacts. We can no longer allow fossil
fuel companies to shift the cost of paying for the effects of sea level rise
and climate change to our taxpayers.”
“Large brush fires, rising sea levels, more frequent and severe heat waves,
droughts and extreme rainfall require action to protect people, property and
infrastructure.Rising sea levels will inundate coastal roads, buildings,
homes, parks and our treasured beaches that draw visitors to our islands.
Erosion and wave action could wipe out miles of Honoapiilani Highway, the
main lifeline for motorists to get to and from homes, resorts and business
areas in West Maui.”

 Rising sea levels and projections of stronger and more frequent El Nino
events and tropical cyclones indicate a growing statewide vulnerability to
coastal flooding and erosion and other impacts of severe weather. Rising
sea levels are already affecting Maui County’s natural environment, critical
public infrastructure, public and private property and its economy. Sea level
rise is likely to reach 3.2 feet globally as soon as 2060 and continue rising
for centuries.
“Much of the land designated for urban land uses will be adversely affected
by sea level rise, so we need to plan for that now, Mayor Victorino said.
“We can expect impacts on tourism, harbors, airports, infrastructure pump
stations, water and sewer lines and roadways.”
According to the University of Hawaii Sea Grant Program, West Maui is
most at risk of economic loss from structures and land damaged by an
anticipated sea level rise of 3.2 feet. West Maui damages are estimated at
$1.9 billion. Other impacted areas: Kihei-Makena, $980.8 million; WailukuKahului, $289.8 million; Molokai, $284.8 million; Paia-Haiku, $81 million;
Hana, $11.1 million; and Lanai, $10 million.
“Someone needs to pay,” Mayor Victorino said. “Fossil fuel companies
have caused the substantial share of all industrial greenhouse gas pollution
for the past 50-plus years. Science clearly shows that burning fossil fuels
has led to sea level rise and other environmental impacts that scientists
report will get worse, perhaps much worse, in the years to come.”
Bringing suit in this matter involves the cooperation of the Maui County
Council to authorize retention of attorneys with special expertise in this
area of law. “With the Council’s support, we will fight back by going to court
to hold these companies accountable for the ongoing harm caused by their
products and the costs being handed over to taxpayers,” Mayor Victorino
said.
PHOTOS:
• A photo taken in July of ocean water from the King Tide flooding
Honoapiilani Highway near Mile Marker 14 in Olowalu. (credit: Asa
Ellison)
• A photo taken in 2016 of coastal erosion at Kaanapali Beach Club in
Honokowai (credit: Tara Owens)
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/D6jvNSCyx64 (credit: Chris Sugidono)
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