PASS CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION IN FLORIDA!

Introduction
Climate change is difficult to solve because the most meaningful solutions to reducing CO2 emissions are dependent on government laws and regulations, which can be frustratingly slow to adapt. 

As individuals, we have the potential to impact this problem by registering our support for legislative action to our leaders and representatives. 

If we can get this petition to 250K signatures, we can sufficiently demonstrate to Florida policymakers that there is enormous support among Floridians to take decisive action to prevent catastrophic Climate Change!  


The Petition
To: Governor DeSantis, Chairman Fay and Commissioners of the Florida Public Service Commission, and Florida legislators

We ask that you take immediate action to pass Renewable Portfolio Standard legislation in Florida to ensure the transition of our electricity utility sector to a net zero emissions basis enforced by law, a crucial and necessary step to prevent catastrophic climate change. 

WHY IS THIS PETITION IMPORTANT? (Data and Sources Included Below)

1. We need to reduce Global CO2 emissions to net zero by 2050 to prevent greater levels of global warming and catastrophic damage due to climate change. 
   
   
2. Forecasts show that the US is NOT ON-TRACK to make meaningful progress towards the 2050 net zero CO2 emissions target and further decisive action is needed. 
   
   
3. Transitioning the US Electricity Utility Sector to become emissions-free in an accelerated manner is critical to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 because it is directly responsible for ~30% of total emissions, and is necessary to eliminate the ~38% of total emissions generated from the transportation and building heating/cooling sectors by adopting electric alternatives. 
   
   
4. “Renewable Portfolio Standards” (RPS) are a type of state-level legislation that currently exists in 30 states that requires electricity utilities to obtain a certain percentage of retail electricity from renewable energy sources, if this standard were supported throughout the remaining states, we could secure the net zero emissions transition of the electricity utility sector in time to make significant progress in averting catastrophic damage from climate change. 
   
   
5. In Florida, the top 5 electricity utility companies generate over 80% of the electricity in the state. The majority of these companies have set voluntary goals to reach net zero emissions by 2045-2050, however, nearly 85% of their energy use still comes from fossil fuels, and there is concern that their plans to reach net zero emissions are not sufficient and that they lack accountability and oversight to enforce their plans. 

In Fall 2019, Renewable Portfolio Standard legislation was filed in both the Florida House of Representatives and in the Florida Senate to develop a unified statewide plan to generate the state’s energy from renewable sources by specified dates, and to require the Florida Public Service Commission to adopt these rules. These bills died in subcommittee in March 2020.  

It is imperative that we pass Renewable Portfolio Standard legislation in the state of Florida to ensure the transition of the electricity industry to a net zero emissions basis, a crucial and necessary step to prevent catastrophic climate change. 

SIGN THE PETITION BELOW AND CALL OR EMAIL THE POLICYMAKERS TODAY!

Governor DeSantis
Email: GovernorRon.Desantis@eog.myflorida.com
Phone: (850) 488-7146

Florida Public Service Commission, Chairman Andrew Giles Fay
Email: Commissioner.Fay@psc.state.fl.us
Phone: (850) 413-6046

DATA & SOURCES
SUPPORT FOR #1 a): Global CO2 emissions need to be reduced to net zero by 2050, otherwise, we will fail to prevent catastrophic damage due to climate change

​​CO2 emissions are continually accumulating in our atmosphere (CO2 emissions remain in our atmosphere for 300-1,000 years), which is causing our atmosphere, land, and oceans to warm at an unprecedented rate. 

Data Points

• Global Average CO2 Concentrations have increased from 280 ppm (parts per million) in 1850 to 410 ppm in 2019. 2019 atmospheric CO2 concentrations were higher than at any time in the last 2 million years. Source: [Sections A.1.1, A.2.1 - IPCC Sixth Assessment Report Working Group 1: The Physical Science Basis - Summary for Policy Makers - United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/
   
• Global Average Surface Temperature was 1.09°C  higher in 2020-2011 than in 1900-1850 (historical baseline period). The current rate of global warming is unprecedented in at least the last 2,000 years. ​​Source: [Sections A.1.2, Figure SPM.1 - IPCC Sixth Assessment Report Working Group 1: The Physical Science Basis - Summary for Policy Makers: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/
   
• If CO2 emissions remain around current levels until 2050 (which is difficult as energy demand is expected to increase), and then decline substantially by 2100, then Global Average Surface Temperature is projected to increase by 2.1°C - 3.5°C by 2100-2081 (compared with historical baseline). Global warming of 2.5°C higher than baseline hasn’t occurred in over 3 million years. ​​Source: [Sections B.1, B1.1 - IPCC Sixth Assessment Report Working Group 1: The Physical Science Basis - Summary for Policy Makers: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/

SUPPORT FOR #1 b): Greater levels of warming increase the level of changes in the climate system including increases in the frequency and intensity of hot extremes and droughts, heavy precipitation and flooding, reductions in sea ice, snow cover, and permafrost, and an increased occurrence of extreme climate events. Many changes are irreversible for centuries to millennia, especially changes in the ocean, ice sheets and global sea level. ​​These changes to the climate system will result in economic damages across all nations, and if global warming increases past a tipping point, the level of projected damages will be incalculable. The sooner the world transitions to net zero emissions, the lower the level of damages will be.

Data Points

• ​​At 1.5°C warming, hot extreme temperature events that occurred once in 10 years on average compared to historical baseline will be 4.1x as frequent and be 1.9°C hotter. Also, more frequent and/or severe agricultural and ecological droughts are projected in all inhabited continents except Asia compared to baseline. ​​Source: [Sections Figure SPM.6, C.2.2  - IPCC Sixth Assessment Report Working Group 1: The Physical Science Basis - Summary for Policy Makers: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/
   
• At 1.5°C warming, heavy 1-day precipitation events that occurred once in 10 years on average compared to historical baseline will be 1.5x as frequent and 10.5% wetter. Associated flooding is projected to intensify and be more frequent in most regions in Africa and Asia, North America, and Europe. ​​Source: [Sections Figure SPM.6, C.2.2  - IPCC Sixth Assessment Report Working Group 1: The Physical Science Basis - Summary for Policy Makers: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/
  
  
• Global glaciers have retreated at a rate unprecedented in at least the last 2,000 years, and in 2020-2011 Artic sea ice reached its lowest level since at least 1850. Additional warming is projected to further amplify permafrost thawing and loss of seasonal snow cover, and of land ice and Arctic sea ice. ​​Source: [Sections A.2.3, B.2.5  - IPCC Sixth Assessment Report Working Group 1: The Physical Science Basis - Summary for Policy Makers: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/
  
  
• Oceans global mean sea level increased by 0.2M between 2018-1901, a rate that is faster than any preceding century in at least 3,000 years and the acidification of the ocean is unusual for the last 2 million years. The changes in global ocean temperature, deep-ocean acidification, and deoxygenation are irreversible on centennial to millennial time scales. ​​Source: [Sections A.1.7, A.2.4, B.5.1  - IPCC Sixth Assessment Report Working Group 1: The Physical Science Basis - Summary for Policy Makers: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/
  
  
• Extreme sea level events that occurred once per 100 years in the recent past are projected to occur at least annually at more than half of all tide gauge locations by 2100. Relative sea level rise and extreme rainfall/river flow events increases the frequency and severity of flooding and coastal erosion. ​​Source: [Sections C.2.5  - IPCC Sixth Assessment Report Working Group 1: The Physical Science Basis - Summary for Policy Makers: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/
  
  
• High projected risk that a large fraction of species will face extinction indicated by the observation that natural global climate change at rates lower than current man-made climate change caused significant ecosystem shifts and species extinctions during the past millions of years. Most plant species cannot shift their geographical ranges sufficiently fast to keep up with rates of climate change, marine organisms will face progressively lower oxygen levels, higher ocean acidification, and rising extreme ocean temperatures, especially in the coral reefs and polar ecosystems, and most small mammals and freshwater molluscs will not be able to keep up population rates. ​​Source: [Sections SPM 2.3 - IPCC AR5 Synthesis Report - Summary for Policy Makers: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/syr/
  
  
• Increased risk that food security will decrease as marine species face redistribution and biodiversity reduction, wheat, rice, and maize in tropical and temperate regions face lower yields, and renewable surface water and groundwater resources in most dry subtropical regions are depleted. At temperature increases of ~4°C or more, the projected risk of decreased food security is very high globally, especially when combined with increasing food demand. ​​Source: [Sections SPM 2.3 - IPCC AR5 Synthesis Report - Summary for Policy Makers: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/syr/

SUPPORT FOR #2: ​​The US is NOT on-track to make significant progress towards to 2050 net zero CO2 emissions target

​​Total US CO2 emissions have reduced by ~14% since 2005, however, projections show that the current progress and enacted policies are nowhere near meeting the 2050 net-zero target.

​​Data Points

• ​​2020 US Annual CO2 emissions were 4.7 billion tonnes and projected 2050 annual CO2 emissions are estimated between 4-5 billion tonnes, resulting in no significant decrease in annual emissions by 2050. ​​CO2 emissions are projected to decrease from 2022-2037 due primarily from a shift from coal usage to natural gas and renewable usage for electricity generation, but afterwards are projected to increase from 2037-2050 due to population and economic growth increasing the need for energy. ​​
  Source #1: [Page 37 Table ES-2 - US EPA Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2020 - 2022 Complete Main Report: https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks-1990-2020]; 
  Source #2: [Page 7 Figure 3 -Annual Energy Outlook (AEO) 2022 Narrative - U.S. Energy Information Administration: https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/aeo/

SUPPORT FOR #3: Reforming the US electricity utility sector to become emissions-free is critically important to achieve net zero emissions by 2050

Data Points

• Electricity generation is responsible for 30% of total CO2 emissions (2020). ​​Source: [Section Table - 2-1 - US EPA Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2020 - 2022 Complete Main Report: https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks-1990-2020
  
  
• ​​​​A net zero emissions electricity generation industry enables the potential to eliminate an additional 38% of total CO2 emissions that is generated from the transportation and building heating and cooking sectors through the adoption of electric alternatives. (i.e. electric passenger vehicles (potential to offset ~14% of total CO2 emissions), electric light-duty trucks (potential to offset ~7% of total CO2 emissions), electric freight trucks (potential to offset ~10% of total CO2 emissions), and electric building heating & cooking (potential to offset ~7% of total CO2 emissions)). Source: [Section Figure ES-6 - US EPA Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2020 - 2022 Complete Main Report: https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks-1990-2020

SUPPORT FOR #4: ​​Renewable Portfolio Standards (or RPS) could secure the net zero transition of the US electricity utility sector in time to make significant progress in averting catastrophic damage from climate change

​​RPS currently exist in 30 states and apply to 58% of U.S. Retail electricity sales. Each state’s RPS requirements ramp up over time are typically enforced with some sort of penalty, and are unique based on state resources and circumstances, and input form industry participants and non-government organizations.

Data Points

• States have generally been meeting their set RPS targets, and half of RPS states have further raised their RPS targets. Only a few instances of significantly missed interim targets, typically due to unique state-specific issues. ​​Source: [PG 32 - 2021 Report - U.S. Renewables Portfolio Standards 2021 Status Update: Early Release - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: https://eta-publications.lbl.gov/publications/us-renewables-portfolio-standards-3
  
  
• State RPS are estimated to be responsible for 45% of all new renewable energy additions since 2000. ​​Source: [PG 18 - 2021 Report - U.S. Renewables Portfolio Standards 2021 Status Update: Early Release - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: https://eta-publications.lbl.gov/publications/us-renewables-portfolio-standards-3
  
  
• State RPS provide long-term guidance and market signals which allow electricity providers and grid operators sufficient time to adapt and change their planning decisions to comply with State RPS requirements and to integrate a greater share of variable renewable energy sources.
  
  

SUPPORT FOR #5 a): In Florida, the top 5 electricity utility companies generate over 80% of the electricity in the state, the majority of these companies have set voluntary goals to reach net zero emissions by 2045-2050, however, nearly 85% of their energy use still comes from fossil fuels.

Data Points

• The top 5 retailers of electricity make up 81% of total state sales of electricity in 2020. The generation mix for electricity utilities by primary energy source in 2020 was (rounded): 77% - Natural Gas, 13% - Nuclear, 7% - Coal, 2% - Solar, 1% - Petroleum. Source: [Sections ‘3. Retailers’, ‘5. Generation’ - Full Data Tables 1-17 - U.S. Energy Information Administration - Florida State Electricity Profile: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/state/florida/]: 
   

SUPPORT FOR #5 b): In Fall 2019, Renewable Portfolio Standard legislation was filed in both the Florida House of Representatives and in the Florida Senate to develop a unified statewide plan to generate the state’s energy from renewable sources by specified dates, and to require the Florida Public Service Commission to adopt these rules. These bills died in subcommittee in March 2020. 
Source: [House Bill 97 (2020) - State Renewable Energy Goals: https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=66524

Source: [Senate Bill 256 (2020) - Renewable Energy: https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2020/256