GLOBAL WARMING: Ideas for making a difference:

1. Cut global warming pollution
2. Ideas for making a difference when it comes to stopping climate change [from Sierra club Insider 1-8-08]
3. Find out what you can do to fight global warming.
4. Attend the following program to learn more.

EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FLORIDA’S OCEANS AND COASTS

Because the physical and chemical properties of Earth’s atmosphere and oceans are intimately and profoundly inter-dependent, human-caused changes to climate will affect Florida’s marine and coastal environments, including our natural resources and people.

DRIVERS OF OCEAN CHANGE

Four principle mechanisms or agents of climate change will affect  Florida’s ocean and coasts.

1. Increasing Greenhouse gases
2. Increasing air temperature and water vapor
3. increasing Ocean temperature
4. Increasing Sea level

EFFECTS OF OCEAN CHANGE

Drivers of ocean change will cause effects in Florida’s oceans and coasts.  At present, no expected ocean or coastal effects are expected to be beneficial to Florida’s natural resources or people.  However, this perspective may change as new knowledge becomes available. 

Effects are imperfectly known but include: 

1. Ocean acidification
2. Altered rainfall/runoff patterns
3. storms & hurricanes
4. coral bleaching
5. exotic species
6. native species’ range & reproductive changes
7. nutrient cycling effect
8. Harmful algal blooms
9. Hypoxia

Effects of Sea level rise…..

1. tidal wetland response
2. estuaries and tidal river response
3. beach & inlet response
4. coastal water supply
5. infrastructure

RESPONDING TO THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Florida will respond to the adverse effects of climate change in three ways. 

Some effects will be tolerated.  This means that no reasonable options will be found to avoid having to accept an undesirable effect.  For example, Florida may be forced to accept the loss of its coral reefs. 

Other effects will be mitigated.  This means that in-kind strategies and actions will compensate for some or all of an adverse effect.  For example, Florida may set aside low uplands so tidal wetlands can migrate as sea level rises.

Finally, we will adapt, meaning that our ways of life, infrastructure, or economy will change so as to perpetuate Florida’s quality of life.  For example, homes built to hurricane-resistant standards will eventually eliminate the severe consequences of severe storms.

THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION

Some effects, such as ocean acidification, have already begun.  Others will begin in the coming decades and the time must come when Florida is simultaneously and continuously challenged by all of these effects.  The long term extent and severity of oceanic or coastal effects caused by climate change ultimately depend on how rapidly we can eliminate human sources of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere at harmful levels, now and in the future.

More Info:

• "Game Over on Global Warming?": An article on the landmark report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

• Climate Change:  There has be much activiy which has occurred on the Climate Change front, you can catch up by going to the various websites to read and listen. [information provided by Susie Caplow, Fl Chapter Sierra Club's Contract Lobbyist]

  
  www.dep.state.fl.us/climatechange
  www.psc.state.fl.us
  www.energyjustice.net
  
  To hear the panel discussions and key note speakers from the Climate Summit Archives:
  http://www.myfloridaclimate.com/
  
  To follow the Florida Energy Commission:
  http://www.floridaenergycommission.gov/
  
  To learn about CFO ALEX SINK AND COMMISSIONER BRONSON Cabinet Climate Change workshops: http://www.floridaclimatechange.com/
  
  http://aceee.org/energy: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
  http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/ Florida Solar Energy Center