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Climate Change
Florida Climate Policy News
WWF is taking an active role in the formulation of state policies to mitigate climate change impacts in Florida. Debbie Harrison, Director of WWF’s Florida Program, was appointed to serve on Governor Charlie Crist’s 21-member Action Team on Energy and Climate Change in 2007. The Action Team was created to recommend strategies and policies that will reduce Florida’s greenhouse gas emissions to 2000 levels by 2017, to 1990 levels by 2025, and to 1990 levels by 2050. Strategies recommended by the group in October, which the Governor is in the process of reviewing, will result in an 80% green house gas reduction in Florida from 1990 levels by 2050 if enacted.
The final report Florida's Energy and Climate Change Action Plan with 50 recommended ways that Florida can meet or exceed the reduction targets was released on October 2008. Recommendation from the Action Team include strategies that will reduce Florida’s reliance on fossil fuels and result in a total fuel savings of 53.5 billion gallons of petroleum, 200.2 million short tons of coal, and 6.394 billion cubic feet of natural gas between 2009 and 2025. Twenty eight of the recommendations whose impact was formally quantified by the Center for Climate Strategies would also produce a 34% reduction in Florida’s emissions by 2025, and save an estimated $28 billion.
WWF is taking part in a state-wide educational and outreach campaign on the recommendations of the Action Team that has generated various new stories State and Nation-wide.
List of news stories on the Action Team:
- Associated Press - October 16, 2008 Climate change proposals can exceed Crist's goals
- Grist Magazine, October 16, 2008 Sunshine statement: Florida's Action Team on Energy and Climate Change unveils full plan to halt warming
- Greenwire October, 16, 2008 Fla. task force lays out ambitious plan for reducing emissions
- The St. Petersburg Times- October 17, 2008 Governor's climate team predicts Florida will beat emission targets
- The Miami Herald October 17, 2008 Gov. Crist's energy and climate 'action team' offers tips
- Sarasota Herald-Tribune October 17, 2008 50 ways to cut into climate change
- The Florida Times Union, October, 17, 2008 Climate panel emphasizes savings Businesses and the environment would benefit, members say.
- Naples Daily News October 19, 2008 Florida gets glimpse at possible energy future
- Grist Magazine October 19, 2008 A 50% GHG cut by 2025 will save Florida $28 billion
- Pensacola News Journal October 22, 2008 Environmentalists seek tougher emissions standards
- Orlando Sentinel October 23, 2008 Florida's global-warming goals look like expensive hot air
- Florida Times-Union October 29, 2008 Global warming: Practical solutions
- Tampa Tribune October 31, 2008 Florida's Renewable Energy Debate Weighs Clean Versus Costly
- The Lakeland Ledger November 3, 2008 Green Groups Have Lots of Ideas for New Leadership
Letters to the Editor/Opinion
2009
- Daytona News-Journal March 04, 2009 FPL's DeSoto project key step toward solar by Armando J. Olivera, Florida Power and Light and Debbie Harrison, World Wildlife Fund
- Miami Herald March 8, 2009 Solar power vital to state's future by Armando J. Olivera, Florida Power and Light and Debbie Harrison, World Wildlife Fund
- Scripps Treasure Coast March 9, 2009 Solar power site an important step for Florida by Armando J. Olivera, Florida Power and Light and Debbie Harrison, World Wildlife Fund
2008
- Palm Beach Post October 23, 2008 State's climate goal unattainable, expensive
- Florida Times-Union October 30, 2008 Recommendations are senseless
- Florida Times-Union November 6, 2008 Climate change critic is off base
By Special to the Times-Union by Debbie Harrison, Director WWF Florida Program
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