Barry Joins Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions at FAU

Dear Friends and Associates: I am pleased to tell you that I recently joined the Center for Urban and Environmental Studies (CUES) at Florida Atlantic University in downtown Fort Lauderdale as a Research Fellow. At CUES, I will be continuing my work on global warming and climate change, primarily engaged in assisting local governments, organizations and businesses as they plan and execute energy and water conservation, greenhouse gas emission reduction, and climate change adaptation programs. CUES' mission is to work with policy makers and the public in their pursuit of options for managing growth while preserving natural systems, promoting a strong economy, and planning livable communities. Information about CUES and its climate change program can be found on the following websites: http://www.cuesfau.org/

http://www.sfclimatechange.com/ Barry N Heimlich, Research Fellow Center for Urban and Environmental Solutionsat Florida Atlantic University 954-963-3564 954-963-2428 fax BarryCUES@bellsouth.net

Out with the old -- In with the new

I took this photo from a river boat on the Danube River in Austria as we approached Vienna. There were wind turbines all along the river in Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany. Also there were residences with photovoltaic solar panels in many places. The Europeans are setting the pace on adoption of renewable energy, that's for sure. It's about time the USA got its act together and took the lead. I am grateful for Mr. Bush's long overdue recognition that global warming is a real and serious danger. Maybe things will begin to happen.

A Major Victory for Planet Earth

State blocks coal-fired FPL plant on edge of Lake Okeechobee By Ian Katz South Florida Sun-Sentinel June 6, 2007 ----------- The state Public Service Commission on Tuesday unanimously rejected Florida Power & Light Co.'s request to build a $5.7 billion coal-fired power plant on the western edge of Lake Okeechobee that opponents said would emit toxic mercury and harm the Everglades.By voting 4-0 against the Glades County plant, the commission "made the right decision for the environment, the right decision for the Everglades and the right decision for Florida," Gov. Charlie Crist said in a statement.But FPL President Armando Olivera said the decision could result in higher electricity rates for customers."It also increases the likelihood of electricity disruptions in the event that hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico disrupt the natural gas supply to Florida, as was the case with Katrina and Wilma in 2005," he said in a statement.FPL, the state's largest utility, said the plant would help meet future electricity demands and allow FPL to diversify its fuel sources. It said about half its fuel comes from natural gas, which is becoming more expensive.FPL can ask the PSC to reconsider its ruling or appeal to the state Supreme Court, but said it had not decided whether it would do either.The commission "ruled that FPL's proposal is not the most cost-effective alternative," PSC Chairwoman Lisa Polak Edgar said in a statement. The commission recognizes the need for greater fuel diversity and more power generation, she said, but determined that the "potential benefits did not mitigate the additional costs and risks of the project." On May 25, the commission staff issued a primary recommendation agreeing with the need for the plant.The plant had been expected to create about 1,600 construction jobs a year for nearly five years, then 180 full-time jobs after it began to operate.Environmentalists warned that the plant, which was to consist of two 980-megawatt generating units on nearly 5,000 acres near Moore Haven, would have contributed to global warming and posed a danger to the Everglades. They said it would have dumped into the South Florida environment carbon dioxide and mercury, a contributor to birth defects and neurological disorders. FPL countered that the amount of mercury would have been negligible.On Tuesday, environmentalists applauded the commission's ruling."This decision will reassure taxpayers that the billions we are spending to restore the Everglades will not be undermined by allowing a huge new source of pollution in this treasured wilderness," said Holly Binns, field director for Environment Florida. Stephen Smith, executive director for Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said the group hopes that "FPL will finally get the message that Floridians don't want any new coal-fired power plants in their state. It is time that FPL get serious about investing in energy efficiency and clean energy which will not threaten the future health and safety of their customers."Some environmental groups also are protesting a proposed natural gas plant set to open in western Palm Beach County in 2009.FPL said the Glades plant would incorporate pollution control equipment and would have been "one of the cleanest coal plants in the nation."The company also said that if it has to build natural gas-fired plants instead of the Glades plant, it would be 70 percent dependent on natural gas by 2016, "exposing customers to risks in reliability, and ultimately higher prices."In his statement, Olivera asked the PSC for guidance."We obviously misread the commission's intention for fuel diversity and are hopeful that going forward they will provide us with clear and unwavering direction as to what they want us to do," he said.Ian Katz can be reached at ikatz@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4664. Copyright © 2007, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Stmt to White House Listening Session

COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION LISTENING SESSION ________________________________ UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI ROSENSTIEL SCHOOL OF MARINE AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway Miami, Florida September 15, 2006 10:00 a.m. MODERATED BY: MONICA LINNENBRINK D.J. CASE & ASSOCIATES 317 E. Jefferson Blvd. Mishawaka, Indiana 46545 (574)258-0100 MR. HEIMLICH: Thank you. MS. LINNENBRINK: You're welcome. MR. HEIMLICH: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Barry Heimlich. I'm the Vice President of the Broward County Audubon Society, a volunteer organization with 1500 members. MS. LINNENBRINK: Can you spell your last name, please. MR. HEIMLICH: It's H-E-I-M-L-I-C-H. Like the Heimlich Maneuver. MS. LINNENBRINK: Thank you. MR. HEIMLICH: I'm a chemical engineer and retired executive from the pharmaceutical and petroleum industries. I'm also the Director of the Smart Growth Partnership for Southeast Florida. The dispute is over. Scientists overwhelmingly agree that the greenhouse gasses cause global warming. And recent studies indicate that global warming is the primary reason why major hurricanes have doubled since 1970. After the hurricane season of 2004 and '05, it's not surprising that South Floridians worry about a Category 3 or 4 storm. What you may not realize is how badly this fear is affecting Florida's economy today. Commercial and residential real estate sales are plummeting because skyrocketing property insurance rates. Out-of-state businesses are questioning whether or not they can rely on Florida's suppliers. People in businesses from out of state hesitate to relocate to Florida, and some homeowners are being forced to sell and move away because they can't afford insurance premiums that have doubled in the last two years. This map shows (indicating) what South Florida will -- South Florida will be swamped if sea levels rise by 3 feet by 2100 as projected; that includes all of Everglades National Park, the Florida Keys, the cities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Naples. 7 million people live in this area. If Greenland ice sheets slide into the sea, everything on this map will be red. Florida's in serious trouble and we need Washington's help, and nothing else that anybody's talked about here today matters if we don't deal with this problem. There is no longer time to make excuses and deny what is obvious. Global warming will never be reversed without American leadership. New policies are needed to set tough emission limits, enable trading of emissions credits, and incentivizing American industry to apply its technology and capital to developing carbon-free energy alternatives, such as the Safe Climate Act. Our government must assert leadership with the nations of the world. China and India will not do their part unless America sets the example and takes the lead. It's not too late to sign the Kyoto treaty and follow California's example. Like the industrial and information revolutions, the energy revolution will lead to new prosperity for America. "Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great," said Nelson Mandela last year. Please tell Mr. Bush that this is his opportunity to be great. Thank you.

In Big Buyout, Utility to Limit New Coal Plants - New York Times

In Big Buyout, Utility to Limit New Coal Plants - New York Times Under a proposed $45 billion buyout by a team of private equity firms, the TXU Corporation, a Texas utility that has long been the bane of environmental groups, will abandon plans to build 8 of 11 coal plants and commit to a broad menu of environmental measures, according to people involved in the negotiations. Read more.

AAAS - AAAS News Release

AAAS - AAAS News Release AAAS Board Releases New Statement on Climate Change The retreating Qori Kalis glacier in the Andes of Peru in 2000Photograph courtesy of Lonnie Thompson, Ohio State University The following statement on global climate change was released today during the AAAS Annual Meeting in San Francisco. The statement was approved by the board on 9 December 2006. [bold italics inserted for emphasis] The scientific evidence is clear: global climate change caused by human activities is occurring now, and it is a growing threat to society. Accumulating data from across the globe reveal a wide array of effects: rapidly melting glaciers, destabilization of major ice sheets, increases in extreme weather, rising sea level, shifts in species ranges, and more. The pace of change and the evidence of harm have increased markedly over the last five years. The time to control greenhouse gas emissions is now. The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, a critical greenhouse gas, is higher than it has been for at least 650,000 years. The average temperature of the Earth is heading for levels not experienced for millions of years. Scientific predictions of the impacts of increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels and deforestation match observed changes. As expected, intensification of droughts, heat waves, floods, wildfires, and severe storms is occurring, with a mounting toll on vulnerable ecosystems and societies. These events are early warning signs of even more devastating damage to come, some of which will be irreversible. Delaying action to address climate change will increase the environmental and societal consequences as well as the costs. The longer we wait to tackle climate change, the harder and more expensive the task will be. History provides many examples of society confronting grave threats by mobilizing knowledge and promoting innovation. We need an aggressive research, development and deployment effort to transform the existing and future energy systems of the world away from technologies that emit greenhouse gases. Developing clean energy technologies will provide economic opportunities and ensure future energy supplies. In addition to rapidly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it is essential that we develop strategies to adapt to ongoing changes and make communities more resilient to future changes. The growing torrent of information presents a clear message: we are already experiencing global climate change. It is time to muster the political will for concerted action. Stronger leadership at all levels is needed. The time is now. We must rise to the challenge. We owe this to future generations. The conclusions in this statement reflect the scientific consensus represented by, for example, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and the joint National Academies' statement. For more information, see the AAAS Global Climate-Change Resources page. 18 February 2007

MiamiHerald.com | 02/02/2007 | Broward mayors sign global warming pact

MiamiHerald.com 02/02/2007 Broward mayors sign global warming pact Posted on Fri, Feb. 02, 2007 ENVIRONMENTBroward mayors sign global warming pactMore than 20 South Florida cities have signed an agreement to combat global warming, but it won't reverse the sprawl.BY AMY SHERMANasherman@MiamiHerald.com Mayors in most of Broward's major cities have joined a national effort to fight global warming. ''Broward's mayors are setting a strong example for the nation by demonstrating that they are concerned about global warming,'' said Barry Heimlich, vice president of the Broward County Audubon Society. The organization is leading the effort to get local mayors to sign an agreement supporting the Kyoto treaty, an international accord which took effect in 2005 to reduce emissions. While others are embracing the effort, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle has refused to sign the agreement because he says it's ''anti-American'' and would send jobs overseas. ''Most mayors, if they really studied Kyoto and learned about it, would ask for their signatures back,'' Naugle said. ``It would call for the U.S. to meet certain pollution standards that would cost billions of dollars, but doesn't ask the same thing of China and India.'' Fort Lauderdale already has taken such environmental steps as reducing the size of city vehicles and using solar energy to run meters, he said, adding that he got the Broward League of Mayors to adopt a document covering environmental concerns -- such as conserving energy and water. Heimlich rejects Naugle's arguments and says that the U.S. must get involved to encourage other countries to do their fair share. The Kyoto agreement was adopted by more than 30 countries that agreed to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other global warming gases to below 1990 levels by 2012. President Bush objected to Kyoto, saying it would slow the country's economic growth. A GRASSROOTS REVOLT But the mayor of Seattle sparked a grassroots movement for cities around the country to embrace its goals to save the environment. So far, more than 375 mayors nationwide -- including some 20 in South Florida -- have signed the accord, called the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Mayors in Davie, Hollywood, Miramar and Pembroke Pines in Broward and Coral Gables, Miami and Key Biscayne in Miami-Dade are included in the South Florida group. By signing the agreement, mayors have agreed to reduce pollution and lobby federal and state governments to support the agreement. Mayors say their cities can help by using energy-efficient light bulbs at city halls, buying fuel efficient cars for city fleets and writing laws encouraging developers to build ''green'' buildings. The agreement seeks to have cities reduce sprawl and promote public transportation -- two issues that will be difficult to achieve in Broward, where it is almost built out and public support for mass transit has been weak. Last November, Broward voters rejected an increase in the sales tax for public transportation projects. ''Without some sort of mass transportation system, it's going to be tough for the county to reduce its carbon footprint in any substantial way,'' said George Cavros, conservation chair of the Broward Sierra Club. Davie Mayor Tom Truex said he initially had reservations about the agreement, but finally signed it. `EVERYONE'S PROBLEM' The agreement is '' basically saying the problems we have with the environment is everyone's problem,'' Truex said. For its part, Davie is allowing higher density along the 441 corridor to encourage the use of mass transit, he said. In Coral Gables, Mayor Don Slesnick said his city's trolley system is used by 4,000 people a day and reduces the number of cars on the road. But Gables won't force developers to adopt green building standards. ''It's not our style to usually require developers,'' Slesnick said. ``It's our style to encourage developers. We would be looking for incentives to do green.'' Weston Mayor Eric Hersh will present the agreement to his City Commission on Monday. Weston could take steps toward improving the environment, but expanding bus service in his city is not realistic since gated communities don't want buses inside, he said. ''It would be a pipe dream to think we could create a public transportation system in Weston,'' Hersh said. Miami Herald reporter Matthew I. Pinzur and researchers Monika Leal and Scott Hutchinson contributed to this article. © 2007 MiamiHerald.com and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.http://www.miami.com

28 South Florida mayors sign pact to reduce greenhouse gases, energy use

28 South Florida mayors sign pact to reduce greenhouse gases, energy use By David FleshlerSouth Florida Sun-SentinelFebruary 2, 2007 As world climate experts in Paris worked on a long-awaited report on global warming, South Florida cities were joining a growing national movement to fight climate change at the local level.Twenty-eight South Florida mayors have signed an agreement to take steps to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in their cities, such as buying low-pollution vehicles and requiring new buildings to be energy efficient. Frustrated with what they regard as inaction by the Bush administration, many city officials said they will use their budgetary and lawmaking powers to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide, methane and other heat-trapping gases emitted within city limits."With thousands of cities across America, you can have an immediate impact," Hollywood Mayor Mara Giulianti said. "We are enormous businesses. We shape the building patterns in the country through our approvals and building codes."Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle, who refused to sign the agreement, said he supports many of its ideas for cutting air pollution and reducing dependence on foreign oil but doubted that human actions caused climate change."I think the planet heats up and it cools down," he said. "Human beings have very little influence on that."Nearly 400 mayors nationwide have signed, including the mayors of Miami, West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Pompano Beach and Pembroke Pines.The initiative came from Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels after President Bush refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol, which required signatories to reduce greenhouse gases about 5 percent below 1990 levels.Nickels announced that his city would meet the Kyoto limits and called on other mayors to make similar pledges. Working through the U.S. Conference of Mayors, he circulated the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which called for reducing sprawl, promoting urban forests, encouraging environmentally friendly construction, commonly known as green building, and promoting the use of clean energy.Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank Ortis signed the agreement, and the city has begun drafting an ordinance mandating green building standards. "I have indicated urgency," Ortis said. "It's important to me for our sake and the sakes of our children and grandchildren."Hollywood has set up a Green Team of citizens and experts to recommend steps to take to fight climate change. One step is likely to be an ordinance mandating or providing incentives for green buildings."We haven't drafted anything yet, but I'm hoping we won't drag our feet," Giulianti said.Barry Heimlich, vice president of the Broward County Audubon Society, who has been active in publicizing the global warming problem, approached Broward mayors to sign the agreement. Heimlich said only Naugle refused.Naugle said he disagrees with certain aspects of the Conference of Mayors statement, which he called "hate-America stuff that the environmental wackos want in." As an example, he pointed to a statement that the United States, with less than 5 percent of the world's population, produces about 25 percent of its greenhouse gases.According to a 2006 report by the Department of Energy, the United States produced about 23 percent of the world's heat-trapping gases. Although the amount emitted was projected to rise, it was expected to shrink as a percentage of the world total because of growth in other countries.Joshua Fowler, executive vice president of the Gold Coast Builders Association, which represents southeast Florida homebuilders, said many green-building measures are quite practical, such as special locations for recyclables, energy-efficient appliances and the use of recycled water for sprinklers. But he said certain other techniques would be too expensive or could conflict with Florida's strict hurricane code. "What I'm hoping they don't do is mandate these things without getting the builders' input," he said.While local governments have no direct authority over such issues as emissions from power plants and increased auto-mileage standards, Heimlich, of Broward Audubon, said they have power to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases."I think it's more than symbolic," Heimlich said. "This is a global problem that needs a local solution everywhere."David Fleshler can be reached at dfleshler@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4535.

Twenty-Three Broward Mayors Join Fight on Global Warming

Twenty-Three Broward Mayors Join Fight on Global Warming

by Barry N. Heimlich, Vice President,

Broward County Audubon Society

http://www.browardaudubon.org

February 8, 2007, Hollywood, Florida – The mayors of 23 of Broward County’s 31 municipalities have joined a nationwide initiative to fight global warming in response to Broward County Audubon Society’s Global Warming Initiative. These mayors represent 78% of the county’s 1.8 million population. To date, the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement has been signed by over 393 mayors from all 50 states representing a total population of over 56.4 million (19%). More Broward County mayors have joined this program than any other county in the United States.

Broward Audubon presented 31 South Florida mayors with its Protector of the Climate award at the opening reception of the VisionBROWARD Leadership Forum on the Environment and the Economy on February 8, 2007 at the Bonnet House in Fort Lauderdale. Mayor Manny Diaz of Miami, vice president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, was keynote speaker.

Two of the major consequences of global warming are rising sea levels and more frequent major hurricanes. These are of special concern in low-lying South Florida so it’s appropriate for South Florida to take the lead. The goal of Broward Audubon’s Climate Protection Initiative is to persuade mayors throughout Florida to undertake energy conservation and climate protection programs under the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Broward’s mayors have set a strong example for the nation by demonstrating their concern about global warming and by undertaking green initiatives in their communities. Audubon chapters across Florida and the nation are urged to reach out to the mayors of their area to do the same.

U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement Under the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, a program of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, participating mayors strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities through such actions as energy conservation programs, green building ordinances, antisprawl land-use policies, urban forest restoration projects, public information campaigns, etc.; urge state and federal governments to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the greenhouse gas emission reduction target suggested for the United States in the Kyoto Protocol, i.e. 7% reduction from 1990 levels by 2012; and urge the U.S. Congress to pass bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation, setting emission reduction goals and establishing a national emission trading system. Broward County Audubon Society’s Global Warming Initiative Since October 2005, Broward County Audubon Society under the leadership of its vice president Barry Heimlich has undertaken a global warming initiative comprised of educating residents, businesses and government officials through newsletter articles, a global warming website, expert speakers at its meetings, speaking to civic organizations, and organizing special events. The primary thrust of Broward Audubon’s global warming initiative for 2006-2007 has been to persuade a majority of Broward County’s 31 mayors to sign onto the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. It is also helping the county and municipal governments set up Green Team programs to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Its program was recognized by Audubon of Florida as a model to be followed by other Audubon chapters throughout Florida and the nation. http://www.audubonofflorida.org/PDFs/Naturalist_Summer2006.pdf

IPCC Policymaker Summary - Click here to download

INTRODUCTION The Working Group I contribution to the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report describes progress in understanding of the human and natural drivers of climate change1, observed climate change, climate processes and attribution, and estimates of projected future climate change. It builds upon past IPCC assessments and incorporates new findings from the past six years of research. Scientific progress since the TAR is based upon large amounts of new and more comprehensive data, more sophisticated analyses of data, improvements in understanding of processes and their simulation in models, and more extensive exploration of uncertainty ranges.

Coal Burning Power Plant in the Heart of the Everglades Restoration Effort! | ItsYourTimes.com

Coal Burning Power Plant in the Heart of the Everglades Restoration Effort! ItsYourTimes.com This blog has some outstanding insights into the potential adverse effects of the proposed FPL coal-fired power plant in Glades County, Florida.

Scientists Praise Bill that Would Significantly Reduce Global Warming Emissions

January 16, 2007 Science-based Bill Sets Benchmark for Deep Reductions Needed to Avert Worst Global Warming Consequences WASHINGTON – Eleven senators, including Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), today introduced a bill setting firm emissions reduction targets needed to avoid the worst effects of global warming. The Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act calls for reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) and other heat-trapping emissions to 80 percent below their 1990 levels by 2050. "We applaud the 11 senators who introduced a bill that acknowledges the magnitude and urgency of climate change," said Dr. Peter Frumhoff, Director of Science and Policy and Chief Scientist of the Climate Campaign at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). "The science is clear and action is needed now. This bill lays out a positive vision for the deep reductions needed to leave our children and grandchildren a safe climate."Human activity—burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests—releases CO2 that blankets the earth and traps heat. The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased greatly over the last century and global temperatures are rising as a result. Scientific evidence suggests if atmospheric concentrations of heat-trapping gases stabilize at or below 450 parts per million (ppm CO2 equivalent), we have a good chance of holding global average temperature increases below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) and averting the most severe impacts of global warming.Staying under the 450 ppm threshold requires cutting global emissions roughly in half from today's levels by mid-century. Given that the United States leads the world in both absolute and per capita emissions, we must achieve even deeper reductions here at home. The Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act takes an incremental approach to reaching this goal: U.S. emissions would decrease approximately two percent each year from 2010-2020 to reach 1990 levels. Emissions would be cut 26 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, 53 percent below 1990 levels by 2040 and fully 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The bill allows for acceleration of the emission reductions if necessary to stay below the 2 C target. It also includes provisions to increase our reliance on clean renewable energy sources, improve energy efficiency, test carbon capture and storage technologies, reduce heat-trapping emissions from passenger vehicles and re-engage in international negotiations on global warming."With such high stakes—more extreme heat and droughts, more intense storms, sea-level rise, increasing wildfires and risks to public health—the time for denial and delay is over," said Lexi Shultz, UCS Washington Representative for Climate Policy. "It is irresponsible to saddle future generations with this problem when we have the technology and know-how today to put us on the path to reducing heat-trapping emissions. This bill sets firm, national targets to help reach our goal."The bill's nine other sponsors are Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Jack Reed (D-RI), Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Russ Feingold (D-OR), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).