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MIAMI-DADE A LEADER IN CLEANING UP AIR
The Miami Herald, November 24, 1997
Don’t blame Miami-Dade County if your children’s grandchildren are up to their knees
in sea water here in the late 21st Century.
Miami-Dade ranks ninth in the world and second in the nation among local governments
trying to reduce pollution responsible for heating up the world’s climate and raising
sea levels, according to the United Nations’ International Council for Local Environment
Initiatives.
The county reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by almost 1.5 million tons between
1990 and 1996. It also cut its greenhouse gases by 6.3 percent whereas U.S. emissions
rose 8 percent.
“Cities can make a difference combating global warming,” said Jeb Brugman, the council’s
secretary general.
Miami-Dade is among 185 metro governments participating in the 9-year-old worldwide
greenhouse pollution program. The county is doing its part by reducing electricity
use, planting trees to help cool buildings, switching vehicle fleets to cleaner
fuels and trying – usually in vain – to promote mass transportation.
Miami-Dade’s goal: Reduce carbon dioxide emissions 20 percent, from a 1988 total
of 23 million tons, by the year 2005.
Local programs will be in the spotlight next week in Kyoto, Japan, as world leaders
gather to sign an international agreement for reducing emissions.
Miami-Dade’s greenhouse guru, Clerk of Courts Harvey Ruvin, will be part of the
international delegation of local officials.
The world leader at reducing carbon dioxide emissions is Toronto. The city and its
surrounding suburbs achieved cumulative reductions of 7.8 million tons of carbon
dioxide the last six years, a 6 percent reduction.
The rest of the top 10 in descending order: Berlin and Leipzig, Germany; Prague,
Czechoslovakia; Dresden, Germany; Austin; Edmonton, Canada; Karlsruhe, Germany;
Miami-Dade County and Helsinki, Finland.
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