News Briefs
PIEC: Sustainable solutions to Florida's environmental woes
by Spenser Solis
The 15th Annual Public Interest Environmental Conference (PIEC) gave environmentalists, scientists, lawyers and law students the opportunity to seek solutions to Florida’s environmental woes. The law student-organized conference titled, “Beyond Doom and Gloom: Illuminating a Sustainable Future for Florida,” took place Feb. 26 – 28.
The PIEC allowed participants to choose from three different tracks, each consisting of a different series of sessions. The science and technology track examined what research is currently available about Florida’s environmental situation, said Willson. The second track focused on progressive regulation, which consists of affecting state environmental policies. The third track, social marketing, emphasized methods to influence the average American’s understanding and support of environmental policy changes.
One of the many environmental issues in Florida stems from water and fertilizer use during lawn care. There are currently five million acres of lawns in the state, and during water consumption to water those lawns can account for as much as 75 percent of all municipal water use.
Another important issue in Florida is diesel emissions. Florida is a focal point for ships because of its large number of ports, and 56 percent of U.S. cruise ships leave from Florida. Port maintenance can cause a variety of problems, including disruption of sealife due to shipping and dredging activities.
An afternoon session titled, “The Long Slow Flood,” addressed the dangers of rising sea levels. Florida’s coastline is particularly vulnerable to changes in sea level the construction of armored sea walls has disrupted natural coastal erosion patterns. An eco-friendly alternative to armored seawalls is the use of “living shorelines,” which use natural elements to create sustainable coastlines, as an environmentally friendly alternative to seawalls.
