Clean Air News

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Power Plants, Cars Main Culprits Cited in Report

TALLAHASSEE—Global warming pollution in Florida jumped 347% between 1960 and 2001, according to "The Carbon Boom," a new analysis of government data released today by the Florida Public Interest Research Group (Florida PIRG). Increased coal emissions and oil emissions were responsible for 35% and 53% of this increase, respectively.

“When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you should do is stop digging. To protect future generations from the effects of global warming, we need to stop this trend of increasing pollution,” said Chas Robles, Florida PIRG’s North Florida Citizen Outreach Director.

Today, Rep. Henry Waxman (CA) introduced the Safe Climate Act, which provides a long-term, science-based solution to global warming. The bill requires the U.S. to reduce its global warming pollution by 15% from today’s levels by 2020 and by 80% by 2050. To achieve these targets, the bill calls for improved energy efficiency and a greater reliance on clean, renewable energy sources, while providing companies flexibility in meeting the pollution-reduction goals through a “cap-and-trade” program.

Rep. Waxman commented, “Florida PIRG’s report shows state-by-state how the problem has been growing for decades. Now is the time to heed the scientists and start healing the climate. The Safe Climate Act will dramatically reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to the levels needed to avoid dangerous global warming. We start now and increase improvements over time, as we replace dirty old energy sources with clean renewable energy and energy efficiency.”

Existing energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies could substantially reduce global warming pollution, but the federal government has so far rejected mandatory pollution limits.

Using data compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Florida PIRG’s new report examines trends in carbon dioxide emissions and fossil fuel combustion nationally and by state between 1960 and 2001, the most recent year for which state-by-state data are available. Major findings of the report include:

• Florida ranks 2nd nationwide for the largest overall increase in carbon dioxide emissions over the four decades. Florida emitted 52.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 1960; by 2001, the state’s emissions had grown to 235.6 million metric tons, an increase of 347%. In Florida, increased oil combustion – largely to fuel cars and light trucks – accounted for 53% of the state’s increase in carbon dioxide emissions from 1960 to 2001.

• Vehicle travel increased dramatically over the period, while the fuel efficiency of U.S. vehicles stalled in the late 1980s. The number of miles driven on Florida’s roads increased from 21,360 million in 1960 to 170,587 million in 2001, an increase of 138%. Increased combustion of coal and natural gas contributed 35% and 12%, respectively, of the state’s growth in emissions from 1960 to 2001.

• Nationwide, emissions of carbon dioxide nearly doubled between 1960 and 2001, jumping from 2.9 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide in 1960 to almost 5.7 billion metric tons in 2001, an increase of 95 percent. A dramatic growth in oil combustion in the transportation sector and coal combustion for electricity generation fueled the rapid increase in U.S. carbon dioxide emissions between 1960 and 2001. Increased coal and oil combustion each accounted for 40% of the increase in carbon dioxide emissions.

The early effects of global warming are evident in Florida and worldwide. According to NASA, 2005 was the warmest year ever recorded.

“If global warming is left unchecked, Floridians can look forward to rising sea levels due to melting continental ice and rising ocean temperatures, which could inundate parts of our coast,” warned Dr. Jeff Chanton, a professor in the Oceanography Department at Florida State University.

“Florida residents in particular are at increased risk for health effects from global warming, which threatens to cause more frequent and severe heat waves in Florida and increase the number of people who suffer heat stress and stroke,” noted Dr. Ronald Saff, a local asthma specialist and member of the American Lung Association of Florida.

The U.S. could substantially reduce its global warming pollution by using existing technologies to make power plants and cars more efficient and increase the use of clean, renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass, noted Robles. “These are win-win solutions because they also would reduce our dependence on oil, reduce air pollution, and protect our treasured beaches from oil drilling,” he said.

“Oil companies – led by ExxonMobil – automakers, and most electric utilities continue to fight common sense solutions to global warming,” Robles pointed out. “ExxonMobil gave at least $15 million between 1998 and 2004 to groups working to confuse the public about the broad scientific consensus on the causes of and solutions to global warming.”

“Our leaders must take decisive action to stop the worst effects of global warming. We call on Congressman Boyd to cosponsor the Safe Climate Act, and applaud Senator Nelson for urging President Bush to support real reductions in global warming pollution.” concluded Robles.