Hawaii County has appointed Bethany Morrison as the interim administrator for the county’s newly established Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience, county officials announced Tuesday.
According to the announcement, Morrison has served in various roles within the county’s Planning Department for more than 15 years. Most recently, she served as a planner overseeing the General Plan Comprehensive Review and the County of Hawaii’s Climate Action Plan. She also has served on the Natural Resources Resilience Action Team.
In her new role, Morrison will oversee operations of the Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience, including “developing policies and programs aligned with county codes, collaborating with county departments and community partners on sustainability and resilience strategies, and ensuring the equitable implementation of sustainability efforts across all community sectors,” as noted in the announcement.
She will assume the role in early 2024.
“This office is all about helping to make sure we have a future where our keiki can raise their keiki here for generations,” said Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth in a statement. “We are confident that Bethany understands that responsibility and will leverage her extensive experience and strong background in leading sustainability initiatives. With technical expertise in climate change mitigation and adaptation, proven leadership skills, proficiency in project management, and a successful track record in policy development and securing funding, she is well-equipped for her new role, and we are excited to welcome her aboard.”
The Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience was established earlier this year, when Roth signed Bill 48 into law. According to an announcement from county officials at that time, the new office was created with the goal of shaping the county’s response to climate challenges. The office is responsible for coordinating sustainability efforts across county departments and the community. Its work will include creating policies and programs that address issues including greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, energy efficiency and more.
