As Florida grapples with the devastating consequences of climate change, including record-breaking temperatures and rising sea levels, Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill that brazenly deletes mentions of climate change from state laws.
This move is a stark example of the state’s prioritization of political ideology over scientific reality and the well-being of its citizens.
The new law makes sweeping changes to Florida’s energy policy, deleting entire sections that emphasize the importance of reducing planet-warming pollution. It also gives preferential treatment to natural gas and bans offshore wind energy despite no wind farms being planned off the state’s coast.
DeSantis Signs Bill Removing Climate Change References from Florida Law, Despite Rising Sea Levels
The bill deletes the phrase “climate” eight times, often in reference to reducing the impacts of global climate change through energy policy or directing state agencies to purchase “climate-friendly” products.
Experts have criticized the move, saying it goes further than any other state in repealing existing climate laws. “Florida is one of the most vulnerable states in the country,” said Michael Gerrard, founder of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University. ”
All of South Florida is in great peril from the rise in sea level. They should be the last state to stand in the way of fighting climate change.”
Despite this, Florida politicians are increasingly focused on helping the state withstand climate impacts, pouring over $1.1 billion into increasing community resilience to flooding and storms. However, this approach has been criticized for not addressing the root cause of the problem.
“They don’t want to acknowledge that climate change is happening; they acknowledge they have flooding,” Gerrard said. The move has sparked concerns about the state’s commitment to tackling climate change and its willingness to prioritize political ideology over scientific reality.
