Miami-Dade is a beautiful County, unique in so many ways. We are the only County in the U.S. nestled between two national parks - Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park. Our beaches offer miles of beautiful coastlines enjoyed year-round by visitors and residents.

We are also often listed among one of the best places to live. That's why people are moving here everyday.  Miami-Dade County is expected to have 800,000 new residents by the year 2050. As our population grows, it becomes increasingly important to maintain our quality of life, protect our natural resources, and preserve environmentally sensitive lands and green spaces.

I'm proud to say that we've been ahead of the curve in the "green movement". Some of our progress includes:

• Purchasing hybrid vehicles.  The County's has the third largest public hybrid fleet in the nation according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
  
  
• Adopting a comprehensive plan, the Urban CO2 Reduction Plan, that reduces our carbon dioxide emissions.
  
  
• Upgrading printing equipment and using vegetable-based inks in order to reduce toxins found in the printing process, and purchasing only recycled paper products.
  
  
• Building and restoring "green buildings" and expediting building permitting for "green" builders.
  
  
• Recycling with a new, convenient program that "single-streams" recycling program, where all recyclable goods are placed in one bin.
  
  
• Establishing Home Chemical Collection and Trash and Recycling Centers across the County.
  
  
• Building artificial reefs to support our tourism and fishing industries, and keep our ecosystems healthy.
  
  
• Preserving almost 30 square miles of environmentally rare and endangered land.
  
  
• Creating the Miami-Dade Climate Change Advisory Task Force for future policy creation and advice on building sustainable communities.
  
  
• Creating the County's first Office of Sustainability to keep all Departments aware and in compliance with "green" efforts, and assists with policy development.

We are laying the groundwork for our children and future residents to continue enjoying our beaches and parks, clean air and water, and all the other wonderful amenities South Florida has to offer.