Jul. 12--MIAMI -- Gov. Charlie Crist kicked off the Florida Summit on Global Climate Change on Thursday morning, saying that greenhouse gases and carbon emissions must be reduced to stem future environmental catastrophe in this state and around the nati n.

The summit is intended to bring together business, political and environmental leaders to share ideas on how to develop alternate fuels and identify ways to be more energy efficient. ( To watch a live webcast, go to http://www.wfsu.org/tfc/climatesum mit 071207.html) Also to speak today is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent environmental attorney who has attacked the Bush administration for what he says is a lax attitude toward the environment. On Friday, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Theodore Roosevelt V, the great-grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt and an ardent environmentalist, are to be keynote speakers.

Crist on Thursday noted Florida is one of the most vulnerable states to global warming because of its long coastline, almost 1,300 miles long, as well as its environmentally sensitive Everglades and coral reefs. All could be overcome by rising seas, vio ent weather or severe droughts, he said. The answer, he said, is to find alternative fuel sources that produce little or no carbon dioxide. "We plan to increase our energy efficiency," Crist said during a breakfast gathering of more than 600 conference participants at the InterContinental Miami Hotel. "Florida will pursue global solar energy sources.

After all, we are the Sunshine State." Among the energy sources the state needs to pursue: Wind, ethanol and hydrogen, Crist said. He added that Florida has potential to become a leader in producing ethanol as an alternative energy source because of its climate, allowing year-round agricultu al growing and because of its massive sugar cane industry. Despite some who dispute whether humans are to blame for global warming, Crist said, "There is a strong body of scientific evidence indicating the global climate change is real. We cannot ignore this situation any longer. We have a responsibility to fac this reality head on and take action to address it now." In hosting the summit, Crist is putting big business and car-dependent residents on notice that tough emission control standards are imminent in the near future.

Although the car industry has resisted some government's attempts to impose standards, Cris said if consumers are educated to buy only fuel-efficient cars he thinks that will drive the auto industry to change. Crist plans to sign three executive orders on Friday that will start a process in motion that would sharply reduce carbon dioxide levels in the air in stages. As a first step, he would like to see carbon dioxide brought to 1990 levels by 2025. By 2050, is plan calls for an 80 percent reduction in levels. The governor said he would like to see legislation passed that would put Florida among the nation's leaders in fighting for cleaner air.