Global Warming Campaign News

TALLAHASSEE — On the same day that two Florida Senate committees will vote on legislation that addresses global warming, a new Environment Florida report finds that global warming pollution in Florida increased by 37% between 1990 and 2004.  The Carbon Boom is the first analysis of the Department of Energy’s 2004 state-by-state data on carbon dioxide emissions.

“We think of Florida as being in the crosshairs of global warming, but the truth is, we’re also pulling the trigger.  Given how uniquely vulnerable Florida is to global warming, it is incredibly important for Florida policy-makers to champion measures that will reverse this trend of rising carbon dioxide emissions,” said Environment Florida field director Holly Binns.

Environment Florida’s report comes less than a week before a Florida Public Service Commission hearing on a proposal by Florida Power & Light to build a pulverized coal plant, in the heart of the Everglades ecosystem, that will emit over 13 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, and less than a week after the Florida Governor and Cabinet took part in the first in a series of “Conversations on Climate Change”.

“Environment Florida applauds Governor Crist, CFO Sink, Commissioner Bronson and members of the Florida legislature for tackling the issue of global warming.  Now that Florida’s leaders have pledged to combat global warming, opposing new sources of greenhouse gases, like new coal plants, should be a no-brainer.”

Using data compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy, Environment Florida’s new report examines trends in carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption between 1990 and 2004, the most recent year for which state-by-state data are available.

Major findings of the report include:

• Florida ranked 2nd nationwide for the largest increase in carbon dioxide emissions between 1990 and 2004. Florida’s carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption grew 37%, from 186.9 million metric tons to 255.4 million metric tons over the 15 year period. 

• Florida also ranked 5th nationwide for the highest total carbon dioxide emissions in 2004, emitting a total of 255.4 million metric tons that year.  

• Florida ranked 1st nationwide for the largest increase in carbon dioxide emissions from natural gas-fired power plants between 1990 and 2004, when they jumped 218%.  Florida also ranked 3rd nationwide for total carbon dioxide emissions from natural gas-fired power plants in 2004 (39.7 million metric tons). 

• Between 1990 and 2004, vehicle miles traveled in Florida increased by 79%, while cars and SUVs became less efficient. During that time span, Florida ranked 2nd nationwide for the largest increase in carbon dioxide emissions from burning oil (primarily in cars and SUVs).

Last week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a U.N. body charged with assessing the scientific record on global warming, released its consensus report on the current and projected impacts of global warming.  The report warned of heat waves, water shortages and coastal flooding in areas like Florida, but concluded that “many impacts can be avoided, reduced, or delayed” by quickly and significantly reducing global warming pollution.

“Global warming pollution is skyrocketing in Florida, just as scientists are sounding alarms that we must rapidly reduce pollution to protect future generations.  This report is a wake-up call to cap pollution levels now before it is too late,” said Binns.

“The good news is that here in Florida, we have the technology at our fingertips to cut global warming pollution and forge a cleaner, more secure energy future,” said Brian Frost, a Tampa Bay area business owner, whose company, Energy Reapers, Inc., works with local businesses to reduce energy costs using energy efficient products and technologies.

Florida could substantially reduce its global warming pollution by using existing technologies to make power plants, businesses, homes, and cars more efficient and increasing the use of clean, renewable energy sources, such as solar power and biomass. 

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Environment Florida is a statewide, citizen-based organization dedicated to clean air, clean water and open space. To find out more about how to help stop global warming, visit www.environmentflorida.org/issues/global-warming.