By Arielle Perry, FAU Center for Environmental Studies
As climate change drives rising sea levels, heavier rainfall and other infrastructure challenges, Broward County leaders are exploring strategies to address these impacts.
At the “Resilient Broward: Economic Strategies and Solutions for our Future” event on Feb. 26 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, county leaders convened with the business community to discuss climate challenges and solutions, including the county’s $28 billion plan to tackle climate threats.
“We are at ground zero for the effects of climate change, and I think we want to make sure that we’re not the cause of our own demise,” said Broward County Mayor Beam Furr.
The Broward County Risk Assessment and Resilience Plan is the culmination of a two-year effort to strengthen community resilience to climate impacts in the county. Broward County Chief Resilience Officer Jennifer Jurado discussed expected benefits of investing in flood mitigation infrastructure, such as reduced insurance rates and increased coverage, avoided property damages and increased local government revenue from property taxes.
“The plan is realistic, it’s achievable, it’s effective and it’s responsive to the requests that were made of the same community here today, wanting to see something solid that could serve as that blueprint for moving forward,” Jurado said.
The plan does not identify funding sources, but Jurardo said there are opportunities for public funding and collaboration with the private sector. The event brought together leaders in the business community to discuss how they can support these efforts.
Panelists spoke about topics ranging from climate tech and innovation to climate finance and insurance resilience.
“What we are doing is working across South Florida, across this region, on commercializing solutions for our changing relationship with water and extreme weather, and what is going to come out of that are good jobs, more resilient economy and stronger national security,” said Galen Treuer, climate tech and economic innovation manager for Miami-Dade County.
The discussion also included a panel on climate solutions featuring 1Print and KindDesigns, both climate tech start-ups that are working on creating 3D-printed seawalls. When discussing innovative solutions to address sea-level rise, Marine Research Hub of South Florida Executive Director Katherine O’Fallon expressed optimism for the future. “The solutions are there,” she said. “We just have to make sure more people know about that.”
“I think that’s one of the things that as part of also educating our community, that this is a huge opportunity for these solutions, for jobs and taking care of our backyard,” O’Fallon added.
Arielle Perry is a master’s student in the Environmental Science Program at Florida Atlantic University and is a graduate research assistant at FAU’s Center for Environmental Studies. The center manages The Invading Sea. Banner photo: Flooding in Fort Lauderdale (iStock image).
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