By David Fleshler, South Florida Sun Sentinel
A Florida media coalition that focuses on climate change has been awarded a grant to engage the business community on the threat from rising sea levels.
The Invading Sea, a joint project of 25 editorial boards representing nearly every newspaper in Florida, received a $50,000 grant from Environmental Defense Fund for the one-year project. The money will go toward bringing business leaders into discussions on how to address what many consider the gravest threat to the state.
“We applaud how the Invading Sea has engaged the people of Florida on climate change and support its desire to better engage business leaders on the challenges coming our way,” said Dawn Shirreffs, Florida Director of the Environmental Defense Fund.
The Invading Sea was founded in 2018 by the editorial boards of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, with reporting from WLRN Public Media. The coalition, which has since expanded to include almost every newspaper in the state, shares editorials among its members and has published opinion pieces from public officials, business leaders, scientists, activists and young people.
The coalition plans to produce a weekly “Voices of Business” feature and regular webinars to give members of the business community space to air their views on dealing with the climate-change threat to Florida’s economy, according to a news release from the group.
“Florida businesses have a lot at stake as the climate warms, the seas rise and coastal communities experience chronic flooding,” said Tom O’Hara, editor of The Invading Sea. “Those who are paying attention know more must be done to prepare and prevent the situation from getting worse.”
David Fleshler can be reached at dfleshler@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4535.
