Attending the 14th Annual Southeast Florida Climate Leadership Summit in Fort Lauderdale this week was an honor and a wonderful opportunity to hear speakers and panelists on the forefront of the climate change crisis. It was also inspiring and enjoyable to connect with fellow Leaguers, other environmental activists, elected officials and industry. Leaguers and friends of the League who attended included Susan Steinhauser, Julie Long, Maxine Connor (from LWV Citrus), Tiffany Grantham, Cat Uden of Oceana, Rhonda Roff, Adrienne Barmann of Sierra, Scott Lewis of the Broward Climate Alliance, Laura Tellez of Solar United Neighbors. We met, in person, individuals we’ve met on Zoom and others we’ve corresponded with – in other words great networking. Thank you to Adrienne Barmann and Sierra for giving us space at their table to display our League pamphlets.
I was very impressed that there was not one piece of plastic to be found at this event which included continuous coffee and treats, two breakfasts and two lunches for its 800 attendees! Clearly, this is doable for large groups.
The Sustainable Events Network was involved in “food rescue” work at the summit, helping summit organizers consider how to reduce food waste and then sourcing leftover to help feed populations in our area who need it.
The Broward County organizers did a fantastic job of arranging for world renowned experts, an interesting program and smooth logistics. Jennifer Jurado, Broward’s Chief Resilience Officer, and Jason Liechty of that office who has spoken to our Broward League were chiefly responsible for the event. Here’s a link to the videos from the event: https://www.broward.org/Climate/Summit2022/Pages/Agenda.aspx
Climate Compact
The Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact is a partnership between Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach Counties, to work collaboratively to reduce regional greenhouse gas emissions, implement adaptation strategies, and build climate resilience across the Southeast Florida region.
The Third Regional Action Plan has been released and can be accessed here. https://southeastfloridaclimatecompact.org/recommendations/ It provides recommendations, guidelines for implementation, and shared best practices for local entities to act in line with the regional agenda.
Keynote Speakers
Alice Hill, national security, and resilience expert reminded us that we need to commit to 1.5 degrees Celsius rise in global temperature from pre-industrial era level, but we are on track to reach 2-3 degrees. We have already experienced a 1.1-degree Celsius rise. This rise in temperature has caused more and stronger wildfires, intense and frequent rain, and sea level rise.
There have been 15 incidents of more than $1 Billion in losses in 2022 in the US. We will see more frequent climate disasters, impacts on public health, the economy and national security.
Her suggestions for action include: 1) increasing regional climate efforts, 2) strong building codes now that factor in the future to save property and dollars later, 3) better connect adaptation and mitigation efforts – for example energy efficient buildings need also be resilient to storms, 4) land use considering climate change, and 5) consider how to make the inevitable climate migration more feasible and less traumatic.
Rafe Pomerance, a climate advocate for over 40 years, was a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Clinton Administration. His op-ed piece in the December 9, 2022 issue of the Sun-Sentinel for the Invading Sea is a must read. Instead of putting forth the goal of a limit in temperature rise which is hard to quantify with action, he suggests setting an upper limit on sea level rise as a goal. What is the upper limit of sea level rise in Florida that we can accept as livable? This approach may better help communicate climate change and guide us to limit emissions that will result in no more than, say, 2 feet in sea level rise if that is the goal.
He had some scary data about the melting of Arctic and Greenland glaciers and the devastating impact on sea level. We are in a new epoch – Anthropocene, i.e. humans are dominating the processes of the planet. We need unparalleled cooperation on a global scale.
A few interesting facts: the Paris Accords is voluntary because the US can only commit to voluntary otherwise 2/3 of the Senate must approve. A carbon tax was first proposed in the Clinton administration it passed the House but failed in the Senate. That vote affected the midterm elections, and it happened again in the Obama administration. Taxation is not popular with Americans.
Compact Year in Review
The Compact created a Climate Assessment Tool for local governments, an Energy Efficient Action Plan and collected flood data and more.
To learn more about the Compact’s program visit their website https://southeastfloridaclimatecompact.org/news/compact-currents/
County Administrators and Resilience Officers discuss priorities and programs
Of great concern to Broward is the need to redo some water control structures that are close to losing their effectiveness due to sea level rise. Large portions of Southwest Broward are threatened by severe flooding in the near future. The Central and South Florida Project (our canal system) is in jeopardy. It services 11 million residents, homes and businesses in Florida representing a third of Florida’s economy.
Eighteen water control structures are within 6 “of failure and will fail by 2035 according to Con. Debbie Wasserman-Shultz. Pumps run 24/7 to prevent saltwater intrusion of our drinking water. Some structures can’t be opened at high tide. It is estimated that fixing the system will cost about $1Billion.
Funds to begin a study of the system have been granted but much more will be needed to evaluate and fix the gates most affected by sea level rise. The National Defense Authorization Act has some money allotted for this project. The South Florida Water Management District, the US Army Corps of Engineers and the state and Federal governments are all stakeholders.
Monroe County worked effectively on a septic to sewer project but needs to raise roads. More than half of the roads in the Keys will be underwater by 2045. Hard decisions will have to be made about which roads may or may not be worth saving due to the high cost. There is not much new building in Monroe County, but older buildings will need to be protected from flooding. The subject of managed retreat is a sensitive one as residents are concerned about their property values. Retreat from the Keys will have considerable economic effects on the whole state and migration will impact the northern counties. The statement was made that the economics hasn’t caught up with the risk. Insurance rates have and will get higher.
To combat flooding, sea walls alone will not work – we need green infrastructure to protect the coasts.
Other issues – need a regional transportation system as transportation uses the most greenhouse gas emissions. We need to improve building standards and elevate structures. Food resiliency will be a problem, so we need to support urban agriculture.
Resilience is not just protection from flood waters but also economic resilience. Daily tides alone will create a $4.2 Billion loss by 2040. Investing now saves dollars in the long run.
The Role of Business
The private sector has been working with the Compact and County officials to bring awareness to the business community and gain their support to adaptation and mitigation. The publication The Business Case for Resilience in Southeast Florida makes the case that our region needs to make investments in resilient infrastructure now to save money and safeguard Florida. The point was made that, in fact, sustainability and resilience is the business opportunity of a lifetime.
The Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) has a framework to help government and the private sector disclose climate related financial risk for the market. Measuring, managing, and reporting environmental impact of work is important.
Insurance cost and availability are a huge issue now in Florida. Doug Coward of the Solar Energy Loan Fund explained that in traditional lending credit rating is key. Their program lends money to individuals who don’t have credit but do have the ability to pay. This allows them to make energy and resilience improvements to their property.
Choices on land use policy can protect losses. Should we be rebuilding on flood prone areas and purchasing land critical to mitigation?
We often think of permitting reform as aiding developers who might have a negative impact on the environment but permitting rules can also create obstacles to adaptation projects. Reform is needed.
International Efforts
The Netherlands is well known as a leader in water management. The speaker from Rotterdam outlined a few projects – 80% of their land is below sea level. They have large squares which are playgrounds but collect water when needed. They have floating offices and have the philosophy that they must live with water instead of fighting against it.
In England one community has 95% of land below sea level and experienced devastating flood in 2007. They created 4 large water storage areas with the support of both major political parties, attracted some industry and saved the community.
In Japan the Federal government got involved and passed a national adaptation plan with a 5-year reassessment.
One Brazil community prone to mud slides with loss of homes and lives created rain gauges and an alert system through their civil defense program.
The Florida Legislature
For Broward officials the top legislative priorities include funds for septic to sewer programs, climate related legislation, water quality and supply and funds to study the needs of the Central and South Florida canal system. Broward has and will receive millions in resilience grants from the state.
Florida House Speaker Paul Renner has established two new committees – one on infrastructure and another on hurricane resilience and recovery.
Reaching 50% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030
The district secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation made the point that we need to reduce harmful emissions by 63.3% by 2030 to cap the rise in temperature at the goal. We need to rapidly decarbonize the electric grid and make buildings and transportation energy efficient requiring collaboration, compromise, and multiple funding sources. 70% of GHG emissions occur in cities.
The Invading Sea Project
Tom and Rosemary O’Hara were recognized at the Summit for their groundbreaking project to link 26 Florida news organizations in the quest to educate the public and officials on climate change. Please see the latest op-ed to be published locally by Summit keynote speaker Rafe Pomerance on setting an upper limit to sea level rise. Visit their website https://www.theinvadingsea.com/ to learn more about this incredible project and access previous columns.
The O’Hara’s will be retiring and Colin Polsky, Director of the Center for Environmental Sciences at Florida Atlantic University, will be taking over.
Affordable Housing and Climate Change
As noted above, Doug Coward is Executive Director of the Solar Energy Loan Fund which is a non-profit green bank that makes green home loans affordable to those shut out of the traditional loan process. They blend government capital and other sources and resell funds at savings for homeowners who have no credit but can pay. There are no liens on the property.
Commissioner Nan Rich discussed the housing crisis here in Broward. The Sadowski Fund dedicated to affordable housing is often raided for other purposes. Every year, there is an effort by affordable housing advocates to deter or minimize this misuse of these funds. The housing fund must give 65% of its dollars to homeowners but there is a great need to help renters. Broward is pushing to change this percentage to 50%.
County Leaders
Leaders of the 4 counties in the climate compact reiterated their commitment to cooperative action on the climate crisis. The subject of waste management was raised in the hope there will be regional cooperation to save emissions from landfills and incinerators and grow recycling.
Next Year - The 15th Annual Summit will be held next year in Miami.
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Stephanie Pearson, Environmental Issues Chair
League of Women Voters of Broward County