"This summit makes and marks a new day, and a new chapter in Florida's history."

Those were the words spoken yesterday by Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael W. Sole on the first day of the two-day climate change summit, Serve to Preserve, organized by Governor Charlie Crist.

On Thursday and Friday, a packed audience gathered to hear scientists, foreign leaders, lawmakers and environmentalists express their ideas and reveal their plans of how Florida can best address the growing concerns of climate change.

The message was clear about the potential effects climate change would have on the state’s natural resources. Overall, Florida ranks fifth in the nation for energy-related CO2 emissions. And that’s not surprising since the state is currently the fourth most populous - inching up to third in the not too distant future. Current demand for energy is fueled largely by petroleum based fuels which represent approximately 86 percent of Florida’s total electricity generating capacity. Couple those numbers with the current forecasts indicating that electricity consumption will increase more than 67,000 gigawatt-hours or nearly 30 percent over the next ten years – and it is easy to see why Florida must take action.

And that’s just what Governor Crist did at the conclusion of the summit when he signed three Executive Orders putting Florida in the forefront of the fight against global climate change. The Executive Orders entitled, ‘Leadership by Example: Immediate Actions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Florida State Government’; ‘Immediate Actions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions within Florida’; and ‘Florida Governor’s Action Team on Energy and Climate Change’ will together allow the state to reduce harmful emissions and protect the environment.

Governor Crist directed the adoption of maximum emission levels of greenhouse gases for electric utilities. The standard will require a reduction of emissions to 2000 levels by 2017, to 1990 levels by 2025, and by 80 percent of 1990 levels by 2050. Florida will also adopt the California motor vehicle emission standards, pending approval of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency waiver. The standard is a 22-percent reduction in vehicle emissions by 2012 and a 30-percent reduction by 2016.

Florida will additionally require energy-efficient consumer appliances to increase efficiency by 15 percent of current standards. Governor Crist also requested that the Public Service Commission adopt a 20 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard by 2020, with a strong focus on solar and wind energy.

Further, Governor Crist has executed a multi-state compact for the national Climate Registry that will enable Florida to sit at the table with other leading states in crafting emission reporting guidelines for industry. The group of nearly 30 states, including Vermont, Ohio and California, and several tribes has committed to standardize best practices in greenhouse gas emissions data reporting and management, establish a set of common protocols and support a common reporting system.

Two separate Executive Orders were also signed by Governor Crist and Minister Matthias Machnig from Germany and UK’s Foreign Secretary’s Special Representative for Climate Change Dr. John Ashton. The two orders pledged partnerships to further the dialogue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with Germany and work together on advancements in renewable energy resources with the United Kingdom.

For the past two days, no matter what the actual weather, Florida remained true to its nickname, the Sunshine State, as Governor Crist vowed to use the sun’s solar energy as part of the new pathway to Florida’s future quality of life.