News & Notes
November 2009

  Our Amazing Ocean

Take the Environmental Pledge
to Help Save OUR Coral Reef

Hot Issues

South Florida Officials Pledge to Work Together on Climate Change Issues

Several Keys public officials attended the first-of-its-kind Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit in Fort Lauderdale on Oct. 23 along with counterparts from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. More than 350 elected officials and agency representatives were in attendance, all working together on climate change issues.

Newly-elected Key West Mayor Craig Cates represented Key West in a panel discussion about local climate change initiatives, and Monroe County Mayor (and Sanctuary Friends' Vice Chair) George Neugent delivered an address emphasizing the value of a regional climate change strategy.

At the conference's end, representatives of all four counties signed a Climate Collaboration Compact pledging to develop a Southeast Regional Climate Change Action Plan and to convene again next October. The plan will outline regional strategies for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency and increased reliance on public transit. It also will include adaptation strategies that would account for rising sea levels, saltwater intrusion into the aquifers and for the possibility of amplified hurricane strength driven by warming seas. The agreement provides a commitment to working together on local, state and federal issues.

Florida is one of the most vulnerable states to the consequences of global climate change. All of South Florida shares common problems, including potential threats to regional freshwater supplies and impacts to streets, beaches, the Everglades, coral reefs and the Biscayne Aquifer. It is estimated more than 30 percent of Florida's population resides in these counties, so together they can make a difference in addressing this critical issue.

The Regional Climate Leadership Summit is the initial event to achieve this partnership goal. At no other time have four Florida counties united with such a strong voice. Congratulations on a good start!

Journalists across four continents have now called it “the most widespread day of political action in the planet’s history” as citizens in 181 nations staged actions on International Day of Climate Action, October 24, to demand a quicker response to climate change. A group of committed environmental supporters in the Florida Keys participated in one of 5,200 events held around the globe.

The rallies, events and other activities, which began at dawn in New Zealand, swept around the world as the sun rose. All the actions focused on a number – 350 – that scientists have said is the most carbon dioxide, measured in parts per million, that the atmosphere can safely hold.

“These are the kinds of crowds that turn out for rock stars or charismatic politicians, but instead they are rallying around a scientific data point,” said Bill McKibben coordinator of the www.350.org campaign. “They’re asking our leaders to lead – to pay attention to scientific reality, not political convenience.”

In Key West at the Eco-Discovery Center, the day was commemorated by showing two educational films about the effects of climate change, with a discussion of the significant negative impacts resulting sea level rise might have here. Click here for a graphic representation of what Key West would look like with various amounts of sea level rise. Much of it would be gone.

The Keys event, jointly promoted by Sanctuary Friends and Green Living and Energy Education (GLEE) as a “blue and green coalition,” carried the message “Save our Islands and our Reefs! Reduce emissions now! 350.” The films were the first in a series of environmental movies to be shown during the 2009-2010 season. More information on upcoming films, with dates and locations, will be available at www.SanctuaryFriends.org.

The declines of the petitioned-for corals have been linked to numerous major threats, including destructive fishing practices, overharvest, disease, predation, pollution and physical damage from boats. But the greatest threat of all to coral reefs is carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels.

The Center seeks protection for all corals in U.S. waters for which population declines have been estimated at more than 30 percent in 30 years. These include eight coral species in Florida and the Caribbean, eight corals in Hawaii and 67 corals occurring in American territories of the Pacific. More information.

View the entire petition.

Last chance to change from our Facebook Group to our FAN PAGE.
Click below to become a fan of Sanctuary Friends.

Updates, photos, videos, latest coral reef headlines and like-minded friends:
all in one place!

Sanctuary Friends Foundation of the Florida Keys is a non-profit, 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization (Tax ID# 59-2443959).
We take your privacy seriously. Your email address will never be sold, rented or given away. All our emails include an easy opt-out feature.
If you have activated spam filters in your email application, please add the following email to your address book: Sanctuary_Friends_Foundation_of_@mail.vresp.com.