Floridians Should be Empowered to Help Fight Climate Change

Pamela Rivera's Blog
Floridians Should be Empowered to Help Fight Climate Change

Things are definitely picking up steam in Florida and on a wide variety of efforts to urge Governor Rick Scott to come up with a strong plan
for reducing carbon pollution.

Since the release of the National Climate Assessment, there has been a growing concern among Floridians about the impacts of climate
change. Among the most alarming findings, the NCA says that "some of Florida's top tourist attractions, including the Everglades and the
Florida Keys, are threatened by sea level rise, with estimated revenue losses of $9 billion by 2025 and $40 billion by the 2050s." Telemundo
did a story on the very real impacts of climate change on public health, in particular, on that of the Hispanic community. These impacts are
not a thing of the future, they are happening now.

In May, we began a coordinated multi-faceted campaign in Florida to raise public awareness to the Environmental Protection Agency's
upcoming Clean Power Plan. We started with straightforward engagement to get Gov. Scott to explain his plan to tackle climate change.
Partnering with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, we employed various initiatives to ask the governor, "What's your plan?"

In the last three months, mayors have voiced their support for the EPA's Clean Power Plan, which was announced on June 2nd, and
business leaders have begun to mobilize around this plan. Many people have weighed in through op-eds, press conferences, roundtables
(including one with EPA chief Gina McCarthy), and other public events. Former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and current Mayors Rick Kriseman
of St. Petersburg and Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner have all spoken favorably about the Clean Power Plan.

Others, too, have joined this effort. The evangelical community has reached out to Gov. Scott on this issue. Mitch Hescox of the Evangelical
Environmental Network told MSNBC in May that Evangelicals are looking to Governor Scott for a response to the issue and Rev. Hescox
has since then taken the next step to ask for a time to meet with the governor. Hopefully that meeting will happen.

Recently, Governor Scott made headlines when he said he wasn't a scientist in response to a question about man-made climate change. A
group of Florida scientists we worked with then stepped forward to deliver a letter to the governor requesting a meeting to discuss just that.
Little did we know the media coverage that one act would generate. From the Miami Herald to CBS Miami to the Weather Channel! and
more, this story has resonated with Floridians. And, to the delight of many Floridians, Governor Scott agreed to meet directly with the
scientists.

To top everything thing off, this past week we released a new poll that showed that nearly eight in ten Floridians want limits on power-
plants' carbon pollution. That 's a big deal! Floridians think carbon pollution is a problem, and they think our political leaders should take
action and fight pollution.

Even better, curbing climate pollution can be an economically lucrative course of action for
Florida, which isn't known as the "Sunshine State," with over 300 days of sun a year, for
nothing. It's ironic that Florida is #3 in the country in terms of solar potential and the 3rd
biggest power plant polluter at the same time. Switching to solar and other forms of clean
energy, while improving Florida's energy efficiency, will mean that instead of spending
more than $1 billion a year to import coal for polluting Florida power plants, we can
instead promote jobs and clean renewable solar energy here at home.

Better yet: the cost of clean energy continues to decline, with Greentech Media recently
reporting that "wind's levelized cost of energy is catching up to gas, and solar is only a
step behind." Given this trend, clean energy offers huge economic potential to develop
homegrown energy that puts Floridians to work in coming decades, and it would be a big
step forward for Florida's economy.

The Clean Power Plan is a critical step in the right direction. It will help Florida reduce its carbon pollution, protect our environment, and
create jobs. We need to continue to push for strong action on climate change, and we need to empower Floridians to be part of the solution.

We are seeing a groundswell of support across the state for action on climate change. From mayors and business leaders to the
evangelical community and scientists, Floridians are demanding that their leaders take this issue seriously. The time to act is now.

We urge Governor Scott to embrace the Clean Power Plan and to take bold steps to reduce carbon pollution in Florida. The future of our
state depends on it.

So where is Governor Scott on all this? In early June, following the release of the EPA's draft rules on carbon pollution at existing power plants, a spokesperson for Governor Scott said, "The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will review the EPA's proposal and will work to continue to protect Florida's environment." But Floridians want the Governor to continue protecting Florida's environment and want him to make the process open for all Floridians to participate in. The Environmental Protection Agency is taking public comment and so should the Governor and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

The clock is ticking. Like other states, Florida will need to submit a compliance plan showing how it can meet the EPA's Florida-specific carbon reduction target within two years, with a lot of hard work required before then. In developing Florida's compliance plan, we certainly encourage Governor Scott to solicit input from Florida's diverse communities and businesses as soon as possible, and to do what's right for Florida's future by putting in place steps that will cut carbon, create jobs, protect health and help Floridians escape the worst impacts of climate change.

Pamela Rivera
NRDC Florida Director