Role of Governor's Action Team on Energy and Climate Change

Introduction

The Florida Governor’s Action Team on Energy and Climate Change was created to develop a comprehensive Energy and Climate Change Action Plan that will fully achieve or surpass the statewide targets for greenhouse gas reductions.  As specified in Executive Order 07-127, the statewide greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets are by 2017, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 2000 levels; by 2025, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels; and by 2050, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% of 1990 levels.  To accomplish these goals, the Florida Energy and Climate Change Action Plan shall be guided by an evaluation of the possible consequences to Florida's environment, economy, and society from global climate change and offer policy recommendations and necessary changes to existing law.

By November 1, 2007

On November 1, 2007, the Action Team issued recommendations including legislative initiatives to address the following:

1.          Strategies and mechanisms for the consolidation and coordination of energy policy in Florida;
2.          Additional greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies beyond those directed in Executive Order 07-127, as well as an overall blueprint for         development of actions;
3.          Policies to enhance energy efficiency and conservation, including statewide targets;
4.          Market-based regulatory mechanisms, such as cap and trade programs, for use in efficiently reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
5.          Strategies to diversify Florida’s electric generation fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect Florida’s consumers from fuel price volatility;
6.          Policies for emission reporting and registry that measure and document emission reductions;
7.          Strategies for reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles;
8.          Strategies for increasing the amount of renewable transportation fuels and for reducing the carbon content of fuels, such as a low carbon fuel standard;
9.          Policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from state and local governments not addressed in Executive Order 07-126;10.       Policies to reward early emission reductions in advance of statewide or national greenhouse gas regulatory programs; and
11.       Other policies for efficiently reducing emissions in Florida in conjunction with, or independent of regional, national, or international agreements

By October 1, 2008

By October 1, 2008, the Action Team shall issue recommendations including any necessary legislative initiatives to address the following:

1.          Adaptation strategies to combat adverse impacts to society, public health, the economy, and natural communities in Florida;
2.          Policies to reduce the increases in greenhouse gas emissions from new growth;
3.          Carbon capture and storage technologies;
4.          Land use and management policies that improve the long-term storage of carbon in Florida’s biomass;
5.          Strategic investments and public-private partnerships in Florida to spur economic development around climate-friendly industries and economic activity that reduces emissions in Florida; and
6.          Strategies and mechanisms for the long-term coordination of Florida’s public policy in the areas of economic development, university-based research and technology development, energy, environmental protection, natural resource management, growth management, transportation, and other areas as needed to assure a future of prosperity for Floridians in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.