Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced Friday “bold” new air-pollution targets for the southeastern US state, including car emission limits similar to the California standards challenged by automakers.
Crist is scheduled to sign the executive orders setting the targets on Friday, at the conclusion of a two-day Global Climate Change conference in Miami.
“It's ambitious … we are taking a bold step,” the governor said at the start of the gathering, which brings together representatives from the government, private sector and environmental groups.
The orders call for emission of greenhouse gases in Florida to be cut by more than 25 percent over the next 18 years and by 80 percent by 2050.
One order copies California requirements to reduce the amount of carbon-dioxide cars release into the atmosphere, which automakers are challenging in court.
“We cannot afford to ignore this issue any longer,” Crist said of the impact of carbon emissions on global climate change.
He stressed the issue was crucial in Florida, which has the longest coastline in the continental United States.
“Many scientists link climate change to violent weather patterns, such as the ones Florida experienced during the unprecedented 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons. Florida alone was hit by seven hurricanes, with 215 lives lost and a price tag of more than 36 billion dollars,” Crist said.
