EcoLocalizer

Florida’s got its share of environmental challenges — overdevelopment, water shortages, threatened coral reefs — and it’s definitely one of the top states likely to be hurt by climate change. On the other hand, those very challenges have spurred some good news recently on several fronts.

First, if you missed it, comes the news that the state and U.S. Sugar Corporation have struck a deal to eventually cease sugar-cane production on 187,000 acres of land (nearly 300 square miles) in south Florida. Under the plan, expected to be finalized by September, the state will pay the sugar company $1.75 billion for the land, which lies in the heart of Everglades territory. The transfer would take place in six years, during which U.S. Sugar will continue to grow on the land.

• » See also: Fighting for the Everglades, Florida Conservation
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A Florida state press release described the arrangement as “one of the largest environmental land acquisitions in the nation’s history” and one that will provide the “‘missing link’ needed to protect Florida’s coastal estuaries.”

The state says the deal will create “huge increases” in water storage capacity for the region, reducing the potential for polluted runoff from Lake Okeechobee, and will keep thousands of tons of phosphorus from flowing into the Everglades, known as the River of Grass.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican who’s earned some legitimate environmental stripes during his tenure, today also kicks off the state’s second annual Serve to Preserve Climate Change Summit. The two-day gathering in Miami will feature talks on green technology and the economy, “Preserving God’s Creation,” green university research and state environmental progress since the first summit last year. Summit organizers also expect to offset all 179 tons of carbon dioxide emissions generated by the event through offsets purchased with the help of the Environmental Defense Fund and the Florida Forestry Association.

Also going green this week were the Florida Marlins, which hosted their first-ever carbon-neutral baseball game (against the Tampa Bay Rays), on the eve of the climate summit. The game’s 440-ton carbon footprint will be offset by reforestation efforts across the Southeast. (Footnote: Tampa won 6-4.)

Finally, the Miami-Dade Department of Solid Waste this week began distributing single-stream recyclable carts to its customers; the rollout of the carts is expected to be completed over a couple of months. The new carts will let residents recycle everything from newspapers, telephone books and cereal boxes to milk cartons, detergent bottles, junk mail, glass jars and cans … all in one container.

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