Miami-Dade County Urban CO 2 Reduction Program

1. Miami-Dade County Urban CO2 Reduction Program Nichole L. Hefty Air Quality Management Division Miami-Dade County DERM

2. Obvious Flooding Beach Erosion Increased Temperatures Lost of Coastal Wetlands Not So Obvious Drinking Water Supply Lost Tourism Agricultural/Fishery Impacts Health Impacts, Infectious diseases Impacts to South Florida EPA National Air Quality Conference February 2007

3. The Beginning of Our Plan • 1991 – Miami-Dade County one of the first twelve international urban jurisdictions participating in ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Program • Steering Committee chaired by former commissioner, Harvey Ruvin, and lead by DERM • 1993 – Long Term Urban CO2 Reduction Plan formally adopted • Goal – Reduce CO2 emissions by 20% of 1988 baseline by 2005 EPA National Air Quality Conference February 2007

4. Components of Our Plan • Developed by a steering committee comprised of county staff and community experts • The Plan serves as a guide • Periodic data collection and updates • The Plan was continually modified • Support provided by ICLEI staff EPA National Air Quality Conference February 2007

5. Sectors Targeted • Transportation Measures(45%) • Mass Transit and Road Improvements • Increase Fuel Efficiency • Electrical Production/Use Measures (45%) • Increase Efficiencies of Government Operations • Expand the Use of Alternative Fuels EPA National Air Quality Conference February 2007

6. Sectors Targeted • Solid Waste Measures (<10%) • Reduce generated solid waste by up to 5% • Recycle between 30% and 50% of Miami-Dade County’s waste stream • Land Use Measures (<10%) • Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMTs) by 5% • Encourage Infill Development EPA National Air Quality Conference February 2007

7. Internal Challenges • Staff turnover • Insufficient details & data • Difficult to sustain upper management support • Lack of “authority” over sister agencies • Not seen as a “mandatory” program EPA National Air Quality Conference February 2007

8. External Challenges • Lack of supportive state or federal legislation • 27.1% population increase • Continued urban sprawl • Periodic software upgrades & changes EPA National Air Quality Conference February 2007

9. Results Total CO2 Emissions Reduced (1993 – 2005) = 34,062,831 tons EPA National Air Quality Conference February 2007

10. Results EPA National Air Quality Conference February 2007

11. Lessons Learned • Level of political & upper management support directly affects success • Preferable to develop ballpark emission levels by sector for initial planning • Don’t rely on aspects not within your control • Record & back-up ALL details & data • Community education & outreach should be a core component of plan • ICLEI support was critical EPA National Air Quality Conference February 2007

12. Our Future • Miami-Dade Climate Change Advisory Task Force • Adaptation Planning • New GHG emission reduction goals & timelines • Green Buildings • Consideration of a GHG cap and trade program EPA National Air Quality Conference February 2007

13. Helpful Links Miami-Dade Urban CO2 Reduction Program: http://www.miamidade.gov/derm/globalwarming/c02_reduction.asp International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI): http://www.iclei.org/ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: http://www.ipcc.ch/index.html US EPA Climate Change Web page: http://epa.gov/climatechange/index.html Nichole Hefty, Coordinator Climate Change Program Air Quality Management Division Miami-Dade County, DERM E-mail: heftyn@miamidade.gov (305) 372-6825 EPA National Air Quality Conference February 2007