DeRacist Boldly Springs Into Action With Water Pollution Task Force; Not A Single Mention Of Warming
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced a slew of major water policy reforms in Florida on Thursday, making good on campaign promises to address mounting water crises in the coastal state, including a deeply controversial algae problem. But the governor declined to acknowledge climate change in the new policies while doing so and environmental advocates in Florida are questioning whether the policy package goes far enough in its efforts to tackle the state’s problems.
On Thursday morning, DeSantis unveiled a dramatic water plan for the state. Both blue-green algae and “red tide” — the infamous algal blooms choking the state’s coastal beaches — were included in the announcement following a year of controversy over how to fight the toxic, economically devastating issue.
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But some climate advocates laced their comments with caveats. Frank Jackalone, director of the Sierra Club’s Florida chapter, praised the governor’s focus on nutrient pollution (crucial to tackling the algae crisis) and moves to strengthen environmental oversight and incorporate science into state decision-making. But he also highlighted several points of concern. “He’s not talking about mitigating the causes of climate change. During his campaign, he wouldn’t say the words, he wouldn’t talk about climate change,” Jackalone said, noting that DeSantis’ new policies avoid referencing the words. “He’s hinted he’s not convinced people are causing climate change. This is a real problem.”
That concern may sound familiar to Floridians acquainted with DeSantis’ spotty environmental record. The governor notably holds a 2 percent lifetime approval rating from the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) for environmental votes while in Congress, with that number standing at 3 percent in 2017. Environmental groups have moreover consistently expressed discontentment with DeSantis’ tenure as a U.S. representative. On the campaign trail in 2018, DeSantis frequently alternated between labeling himself an environmentalist and shying away from acknowledging the existence of climate change. That approach has persisted despite recent events such as Hurricane Michael, which made landfall with tornado-force winds last fall.
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https://thinkprogress.org/desantis-water-policies-fl-climate-change-03a268b0ae7b/