|
›
Florida follows California greenhouse gas targets |
 |
Florida, the 4th largest US state, has joined California in its fight for mandatory car emissions limits. The states are set to increase the pressure on the federal government, negotiating with European countries for a post-Kyoto Protocol.
|
2007-07-17
|
Under the new vehicle emissions standards, Florida targets a 22% emissions reductions from cars by 2012 and 30% by 2016. The requirements for vehicles are part of the strictest environmental requirements on energy and construction in the history of the state. Florida aims to reduce state-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 2000 levels by 2017, to 1990 levels by 2025, and to 80% of 1990 levels by 2050.
To achieve the ambitious GHG cuts, Florida will start to reduce emissions from state-funded buildings and office space leased by agencies. In addition, the state will promote the development of energy-saving cars and home appliances, such as air conditioning and heating. In the next months, an Action Team on Energy and Climate Change will develop further recommendations for long-term environmental measures.
US States set to oppose federal government
|
Along with adopting similar GHG emissions reduction goals, Florida has joined California and 11 other states in their fight against the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which has yet to grant a waiver to California necessary to implement AB 1493 – the state's GHG emission standards for cars. Saying that "a growing number of states are not looking to Washington for leadership anymore", California's governor Schwarzenegger once again reinforced its willingness to sue the EPA if the state agency does not react by the end of October to its waiver request.
|
|
|
With Florida's Governor Charlie Christ saying that he would be "privileged" to join Schwarzenegger in suing the EPA, the tension between the state and the federal level is growing. In the past months, the Bush administration has been criticized by foreign governments, but also increasingly at home, for its failure to act on the global climate change challenge.
Looking for cooperation with Europe and the G8
Both states push for national changes that would in turn spur global ones. As a first measure, the governors signed cooperation pacts on climate change with the United Kingdom and Germany at a two-day global warming summit on 13 July. The agreements call for the partners to share energy-saving technologies for reducing carbon emissions, as well as discussing a post-Kyoto Protocol.
"We can sign the treaties with the European Union and the G-8 that maybe the president didn't sign. We want to sign these treaties," Schwarzenegger said to hundreds of journalists, environmentalists, and company representatives.
|
More information:
 Florida Executive Order 07-126: Climate Change Leadership (257 KB)
Florida Executive Order 07-127: Immediate Actions (147 KB)
Florida Executive Order 07-128: Action Team (189 KB)
› Press Release 16 July
› See our related news: "California to sue EPA over emissions law", 26 April
|
