CFO Sink and
Commissioner Bronson announce "Conversations on
Climate Change" Web site
Floridians can log
on to www.floridaclimatechange.com for more
information.
TALLAHASSEE—The
day before holding the first of four half-day
“Conversations on Climate Change,” Chief Financial
Officer Alex Sink and Commissioner of Agriculture
and Consumer Services Charles Bronson unveiled today
an official website for their Cabinet initiative.
By logging onto www.floridaclimatechange.com,
Floridians can learn about climate change, watch a
web cast of Tuesday’s workshop and read about
initiatives in other states.
“Conversations on
Climate Change” is a series of four half-day Cabinet
workshops that focus on climate change, how
Florida’s economy is affected by changes in climate
and the need to expand renewable energy sources.
“Climate change
is a reality, and we need to learn as much as we can
about the potential impact on our state’s financial
health,” said CFO Sink. “As a government official
concerned about Florida’s economy, I am focused on
protecting the vitality of our financial and
insurance markets.”
Commissioner
Bronson launched Florida’s “Farm to Fuel” program,
which partners with “25x25,” the national
bi-partisan organization whose goal is to see U.S.
agriculture produce 25 percent of the nation’s
energy needs by the year 2025. “It is my hope that
these discussions will inform the people of Florida
of the importance of renewable energy production in
Florida,” said Commissioner Bronson. “With the
amount of renewable energy sources in our state, we
should strive to be a national leader in this
emerging industry.”
“Conversations on
Climate Change” will begin Tuesday, April 3, 2007,
at 11:00 a.m. after the Florida Cabinet meeting with
“Climate Change: An Overview.” Future workshops are
scheduled after the June 12, September 18, and
November 14, 2007, Florida Cabinet meetings. Each
workshop will feature a new topic and national
experts in areas such as: the science of rising sea
levels, renewable energy sources, the impact of
climate change on the insurance and financial
industries, and more. The sessions will also give
elected officials, business leaders and Floridians
the opportunity to understand how these challenges
and potential solutions present opportunities for
the growth of new industries in our state.
Special guest
former New York Governor George Pataki, who made the
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions a priority in
his administration, is planning to participate in
the June workshop with other experts. Former
Governor Pataki has been nationally recognized for
his leadership on increasing awareness of climate
change among the Northeastern states.
The workshop
“Climate Change: An Overview” the following
discussions:
· From
the Tree Tops- A High-Level View of Our Climate:
Margaret Lowman, Ph.D., Director of Environmental
Initiatives, New College of Florida
· Florida’s
Future and the Science of Climate Change:
Stephen Mulkey, Ph.D., Science Advisor, Century
Commission for a Sustainable Florida
· Florida’s
Beaches and Sea Level Rise: Stephen Leatherman,
Ph.D., Director of the International Hurricane
Research Center and Coastal Research Laboratory at
Florida International University
· An
Insurance Perspective on Climate Risk: Tim
Wagner, Nebraska Insurance Commissioner
and Director of the U.S. National Association of
Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
· Clean
Energy Investments: Kenneth Locklin, Clean
Energy Group
· International
Relationship - Carbon and the UK: Keith Allan,
British Consulate-General
· Farm
to Fuel- Opportunity in Renewables: Mike Bowman,
Farm to Fuel
DATE:
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
TIME:
11:00 a.m., after
the Florida Cabinet Meeting
LOCATION:
Florida Cabinet Meeting Room, The Capitol, Lower
Level, Tallahassee
