By
Eun Kyung Kim
Gannett News Service
WASHINGTON — Florida had the nation's second-highest increase in carbon
dioxide emissions between 1990 and 2004, due to an increase in the
number of drivers and the Earth-warming gas they're feeding their cars,
according to a report released this week.
Emissions
of carbon dioxide, a key greenhouse pollutant, rose in Florida by 37
percent in the 15-year period. That's twice the national average and
second only to Texas, according to the report by U.S. Public Interest
Research Group and Environment Florida.
"People think of Florida
as being in the crosshairs of global warming because we're so
vulnerable to sea level rise and hurricanes," said Holly Binns, field
director for Environment Florida. "But we're not only in the
crosshairs, we're pulling the trigger. We're one of the biggest
culprits in emitting global warming pollutants."
Nationally, carbon dioxide emissions grew by 18 percent from 1990 to 2004.
In
Florida, transportation was a large contributor to the jump in carbon
dioxide pollution. More miles were driven in Florida than any other
state, the report found.
"We're one of the fastest growing states in the country," Binns
said. "We are a state of suburban sprawl and people are in their cars a
lot, driving their kids to and from schools, going to work, running
errands. And very little public transportation is available here."
Coal-burning
power plants added to the state's high pollutant levels, according to
the report, released Thursday. If the state goes ahead with plans to
build a handful of coal-fired plants throughout the state, the
factories could increase carbon dioxide levels by another 25 percent
over current levels, the report said.
The findings were based on calculations PIRG made using estimates from the U.S. Department of Energy of fossil-fuel energy use.
