Environment of Florida
The state of Florida possesses a rich and diverse array of land and marine life and a mild subtropical climate. These assets have drawn tens of millions of people to settle in the once rural state over the last one hundred years, a condition which continues at present. Florida's population increases by about 1,000 residents each day. Land development and water use have transformed the state, primarily through drainage and infill of the wetlands that once covered most of the peninsula.
Most of Florida consists of karst limestone veined with water-filled caves and sinkholes, which provide homes to many species of aquatic life, some unique to particular Florida locations. As urban and suburban development have increased over the last decades, demand for groundwater has also risen, resulting in damage and drying out of portions of the cave system. This has led to ground subsidence as dry caves collapse, threatening property as well as ecosystems.
Florida ranks fifth in municipal energy use per capita due to the continuous use of air conditioning and pool pumps. It is estimated that only 1% of energy in the state is generated through renewable resources.[1]
Increasing landfill space is also an issue. St. Lucie County is planning to experiment with burning trash through plasma arc gasification to generate energy and reduce landfill space. The experiment will be the largest of its kind in the world to date, and begin operation no later than 2009. If successful, experts estimate that the entire St. Lucie County landfill, estimated to contain 4.3 million tons of trash, will disappear within 18 years. Materials created in the energy production can also be used in road construction.[2]
Some are concerned about the effects of climate change. If warming continues and sea levels rise, it may compromise low-lying coastal areas and potentially contaminate the Everglades, St. Johns River and Biscayne Aquifer. Some already blame climate change for the major hurricanes of 2004 and 2005; however, recent research suggests the storms are part of a natural cycle and not Global Warming.[3][4][5]
In July 2007, Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced plans to sign executive orders that would impose strict new air-pollution standards in the state, with aims to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 80 percent of 1990 levels by 2050. Crist's orders would set new emissions targets for power companies, automobiles and trucks, and toughen conservation goals for state agencies and require state-owned vehicles to use alternative fuels.[6]
Red Tide has also been an issue on the Southwest coast of Florida. While there has been a great deal of conjecture over the cause of the toxic algae bloom, there is no evidence that it is being caused by pollution or that there has been an increase in the duration or frequency of red tides.[7]
See also
References
- ^ Swartz, Kristi E (2007). Emission Concern Unites Industry, Advocates. Harvard University: John F. Kennedy School of Government.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Many More Hurricanes To Come
- ^ A globally consistent reanalysis of hurricane variability and trends
- ^ NOAA Attributes Recent Increase In Hurricane Activity To Naturally Occurring Multi-Decadal Climate Variability
- ^ Florida To Introduce Tough Greenhouse Gas Targets
- ^ Tide's toxins trouble lungs ashore