By Susan Nugent, Climate Reality Project member
Worldwide it was the hottest April on record, the 11th straight month of record-breaking temperatures. Now a warm spring is quickly becoming a heated summer.
Already our temperatures have started to rise, reaching the 90s in North Central Florida. And it’s still May, probably on its way to becoming the 12th month that breaks heat records globally.
Yet again in Florida, we suffer the political denial of climate change, the refusal to take action to reduce the harm of rising temperatures.
Recently, Gov. Ron DeSantis limited the state’s response to climate change by again rejecting federal funds for climate action. Then last week, the governor signed legislation that removes the term “climate change” from state law along with eliminating programs designed to encourage renewable energy and conservation.
How can activists remain optimistic about tackling climate change? Can we control the long-term effects of carbon in our lives and those of the next generation?
While we’re considering what actions we take, DeSantis has imposed his polemics in state policy. Amy Green, writing for Inside Climate News, reported on DeSantis’ repeated rejections of federal funds to help our state reduce our impact on climate. Instead of receiving federal funds, Floridians pay full fare for any efforts.
DeSantis has no plans to lessen the impacts of climate change. Instead, we’ll pay one at a time for disaster after disaster. Instead of reducing carbon emissions, helping to allay climate change, he mocks people who are concerned with climate change.
He has his own plans to fortify communities and homes against rising seas. He will use state funding for that, while turning down millions of federal dollars. As Florida taxpayers foot the bill for his scheme, the governor also restricts cities and counties in their attempts to address climate change.
Is this a partisan issue? No. Many politicians from both major parties support climate action. It is time for us to step up and back these people. Our next actions need to focus on this coming November. Campaigns need our backing through both work efforts and financial support.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby advocates propose policy changes in order to make a real impact. CCL has worked long and hard to place a federal price on carbon. But that effort gets stalled in House and Senate committees.
In order to have policy change, we need government officials who recognize the danger of doing nothing about climate change. So, the most important action we can take is to vote. We must stop electing officials who hold back any federal and local efforts to address climate change.
Our actions need to focus on the November elections. We can still make a difference.
Susan Nugent is a Climate Reality Project leader from Gainesville.
If you are interested in submitting an opinion piece to The Invading Sea, email Editor Nathan Crabbe at ncrabbe@fau.edu. Sign up for The Invading Sea newsletter by visiting here.
