SUSTAINABILITY AND GREENHOUSE GAS MANAGEMENT IN FLORIDA

Robert BrinkmannUniversity of South Floridarbrinkmn@usf.edu

Holding Our Breath • Waiting for Answers • Working on Solutions • Denials • Successes • Failures

Organization of Presentation

• Introduction to the issue of sustainability and greenhouse gas management

• Sustainability and greenhouse gas management in Florida

• Summary• Questions

Organization of Presentation

• Introduction to the issue of sustainability and greenhouse gas management

• Sustainability and greenhouse gas management in Florida

• Summary• Questions

Introduction to Sustainability and Greenhouse Gas Management

• Part 1. Sustainability• Part 2. Greenhouse Gas

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Three e’s of Environmental Sustainability

• Environment• Economics• Equity

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Introduction to Sustainability and Greenhouse Gas Management

• Part 1. Sustainability• Part 2. Greenhouse Gas

The Science of Planetary Warming

http://www.stopglobalwarming.com.au/images/scientific_evidence/greenhouse_effect_in_detail.jpg

Greenhouse Gases

• Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride

Evolution of US Policy

CourtsLegislativeExecutive

US Policy

• There’s a policy?

Courts

• Statutory Law Mass v. EPA, 2007

Other Statutory Law Cases

Court Challenges to Individual Projects

Common Law Claims

• Native Village of Kivalina and City of Kivalina v. Exxon Mobil Corporation et al. 2009

Executive Branch

Recent activity….

• Executive order to “Lead by example” on climate change

• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act• Signaled support for climate change legislation• EPA Endangerment Finding• EPA Rulemaking for 85% of Greenhouse Gas

Sources

Congress

House: Waxman Markey, Passed Summer 2009.Senate: Kerry Boxer. Stalled.

Aspects of Failed U.S. Climate Legislation

• Clean energy• Energy efficiency• Cap and trade for greenhouse gases• Transition plan from oil economy to green

economy

State of Federal Sustainability and Climate Change Policy

D+

Leadership Areas

• State and local government• Businesses• Non-profits• Schools

Organization of Presentation

• Introduction to the issue of sustainability and greenhouse gas management

• Sustainability and greenhouse gas management in Florida

• Summary• Questions

Sustainability and Greenhouse Gas Management in Florida

• State of Florida efforts• Local governments• Schools• Business and non-profit

Sustainability and Greenhouse Gas Management in Florida

• State of Florida efforts• Local governments• Schools• Business and non-profit

Why Look at Florida?

• 5th largest greenhouse gas emitter in nation

Examples of State Action• Crist signed Executive Order 01-126 which set greenhouse

gas reduction targets for state government operations at 10% of 2005 levels by 2012, 25% by 2017, and 40% by 2025 and required greenhouse gas tracking.

• Crist signed Executive Order 01-127 to take immediate actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the state with goal of reducing emissions by 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.

• Crist signed Executive Order 07-128 which created Governor’s Action Team on Energy and Climate. Published Plan in 2008.

Examples of State Action• Crist signed Executive Order 01-126 which set greenhouse

gas reduction targets for state government operations at 10% of 2005 levels by 2012, 25% by 2017, and 40% by 2025 and required greenhouse gas tracking.

• Crist signed Executive Order 01-127 to take immediate actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the state with goal of reducing emissions by 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.

• Crist signed Executive Order 07-128 which created Governor’s Action Team on Energy and Climate. Published Plan in 2008.

Examples of State Action• Crist signed Executive Order 01-126 which set greenhouse

gas reduction targets for state government operations at 10% of 2005 levels by 2012, 25% by 2017, and 40% by 2025 and required greenhouse gas tracking.

• Crist signed Executive Order 01-127 to take immediate actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the state with goal of reducing emissions by 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.

• Crist signed Executive Order 07-128 which created Governor’s Action Team on Energy and Climate. Published Plan in 2008.

Agency Level Work

• All state agencies focused to some extent on climate change– State inventory for lands for carbon offset– Biofuel and solar– Energy efficiency– Carbon storage– Statewide greenhouse gas inventory

Problems

• Difficult for states to move forward without clarity from Federal Government on policy initiative. State is considering a local cap and trade program.

• Status quo—sort of• Election year=change

Sustainability and Greenhouse Gas Management in Florida

• State of Florida efforts• Local governments• Schools• Business and non-profit

Florida Green Building Coalition

Residential Commercial

DevelopmentsLocal governments

Florida Green Building Coalition

Residential Commercial

DevelopmentsLocal governments

WOW

Local Governments Green Certification

• Point based system• Water, wastewater, solid waste, energy,

planning, natural resource management, human resources, public transportation, etc.

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How effective are local governments at achieving broad sustainability goals?

• Strong focus on environmental protection

• Moderate focus on economic development largely through special incentives and tax reductions for particular economic sectors

• Slight focus on equity, mainly through historic preservation and more obliquely through housing efforts and urban agriculture

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Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement

• Kyoto levels• Lobby for federal policy development• Over 1000 mayors. 78 from Florida (no, not

Boca Raton)

ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability

Cities in 68 countriesOver 600 cities in US37 in Florida

ConferencesBest PracticesInformation and data sharingNo required reporting

Other Innovations

Sustainability officersEducationInfrastructure changesInvestment in green energy and technologyGreen-tech corridorGreenhouse gas inventoriesSustainability and resiliency planning

Sustainability and Greenhouse Gas Management in Florida

• State of Florida efforts• Local governments• Schools• Business and non-profit

American College and University Climate Commitment

• Reduction of greenhouse gases• Reporting requirements: inventories, climate

action plans• FAU a signatory• 12 schools in Florida

American Association for Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

• Resources• Conferences• Webinars• Information• Stakeholder focused• Etc.

Other Examples

• Focus on k-12

Learning Gate Elementary in Lutz: “To become the nation’s leader in developing successful students and advocates for sustainable living.”

Sustainability and Greenhouse Gas Management in Florida

• State of Florida efforts• Local governments• Schools• Business and non-profit

Non Profits

• Florida Green Building Coalition• Variety of Advocacy Groups• Community Sponsored Agriculture• Collins Center for Sustainable

Florida

Businesses

• Most major businesses have sustainability plans.

• Heavy investment in green• Local innovative businesses

– EcoAssets Solutions– Rosas Farms

Summary and Discussion

Limited US Action on Climate Change.

Significant Efforts in Local Governments, Non-Profits, Schools, and Businesses.

Not highly organized. Some duplication.

Florida a leader in climate change in 2007/2008.

Lack of clear leadership in the state makes local efforts more significant.

Photographic sources• http://globonews.globo.com/platb/cidadesesolucoes/tag/dia-internacional-da-mulher/• http://www.shittheysay.com/2009/10/21/richard-nixon/• http://www.thegrio.com/black-history/thegrios-100/thegrios-100-robert-bullard.php• http://www.pr.state.az.us/find/aldo_calendar.html• http://www.synthstuff.com/mt/archives/individual/2005/11/oh_really.html• http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/10/massachusetts_v_epa.php• http://www.hollow-hill.com/sabina/• http://planetsave.com/files/2009/03/coral.jpg• http://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/collections/imgs/fdl_logo_sm.jpg• http://jcwinnie.biz/wordpress/imageSnag/coal-fired-plant-jj-001.jpg• http://scienceblogs.com/intersection/alaskan_island_of_kivalina_1.jpg• http://www.bloggernews.net/119287• http://www.cksinfo.com/clipart/animals/birds/ostriches/ostrich-head-In-Sand.png• http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3100/2692576004_5ce2dbfa9e.jpg• http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dg6-YtybnSE/TFZw8EsskdI/AAAAAAAAAHc/z0lJMII7axw/s1600/user624_116

8917590.jpg• http://www.steinbergandassociates.com/_/rsrc/1265763997864/Clients/Our-Team/contact-us/Old%20

Pasco%20County%20Courthouse.jpg• http://www.geo.arizona.edu/dgesl/Assets/research_maps/sea_level_rise/florida/sm/fl_6meter_sm.gif

Thanks!For copies of this

presentation, email me at rbrinkmn@usf.edu

Brinkmann, R. and Kling, S.G. Under Review. Greenhouse gas litigation and federal climate change policy in the United States. Greenhouse Gas Measurement and Management.

Kling, S.G. and Brinkmann, R. Under Review. Vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emission trends in car and light trucks: A comparative analysis of emissions and methodologies for Florida’s Counties(2000-2008). Energy Policy.

Upadhyay, N. and Brinkmann, R. 2010. Green local governments in Florida: assessment of sustainability performance. Sustainability: Science, Practice, and Policy. V. 6, p 18-27.

Brinkmann, R. and Kling, S.G. In Press. Perspectives on Incorporating Sustainability into the management of Karst Environment. In van Beynen (ed) Karst Management. Forthcoming book chapter.

Brinkmann, R. In press. Karst and sustainability in Florida, USA. Accepted for publication in IHP-UNESCO Technical Documents in Hydrology.