HONOLULU – A public hearing on the state's inventory of greenhouse gas emission sources will be held Nov. 13.

Estimates and analysis of greenhouse gas emission levels for the year 1990 will be presented. These 1990 levels will be used to determine target reduction levels the state must meet by 2020, according to a news release from the state Department of Health.

Because meeting the target may have substantial effects on residents and businesses in Hawai'i, they are invited to attend and comment, according to the news release.

In 2007, a state law was passed to fight the effects of global warming. Act 234 calls for greenhouse gas emissions in Hawai'i to be reduced by year 2020 to the levels emitted in 1990. The law is jointly administered by the Department of Health and the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Because the majority of greenhouse gases in Hawai'i are caused by the burning of fossil fuels (mostly oil) for electric power generation and transportation, Act 234 will likely impact the amount of electricity and gasoline used by Hawai'i residents and visitors. A state contractor has updated the 1990 baseline level of greenhouse gas emissions in Hawai'i, to which future emission amounts will be compared.

The public hearing of the draft 1990 emission levels from various sectors of Hawai'i's economy will be held on Thursday, Nov. 13, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the state Capitol Auditorium. Before the formal public hearing, information will be presented and questions answered informally from 5 to 6 p.m.

For more information, call 587-2676 or see www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/energy.