FL Will Be 1st State To Swing On Climate: 22 Of 25 Cities Most At Risk Of Sea Level Rise In FL

[appalachiablue]

'Florida Will Be The First State To Swing Over Climate,' Forbes, Andy Stone, Sept. 24, 2019.

Worry over climate change is making its way up the political food chain, and the state where the issue is climbing fastest is Florida. Of the 25 U.S. cities most vulnerable to rising seas, 22 are located in the political swing state. Miami, where sunny-day flooding has become routine, ranks number two globally in terms of expected economic losses due to climate-related flooding. With each hurricane season, Florida seems to have ever more near misses like the recent Hurricane Dorian that are clearly fatal bullets dodged. As 2017’s Hurricane Irma and 2018’s Hurricane Michael attest, the state isn’t always so fortunate.

It’s more than a little ironic, then, that the Sunshine State is one of a minority of U.S. states without a renewable portfolio standard that would require it to get a certain minimum amount of its energy from carbon-free renewable sources like wind. Florida ranks eighth among states in solar energy potential, yet generates just 1% of its electricity from the sun.

It’s also notable that Florida’s highest-ranking political leaders, it’s two Republican senators and a Republican governor, still hem and haw over the connection between human activity and global warming. The state’s senior senator, Marco Rubio, continues to label anyone taking climate change as seriously as it ought to be as “alarmists” and “leftists.” It’s unclear whether he’s ever said those words while looking a Miamian in the eye.

Former governor Rick Scott famously forbade the state’s environmental regulators from using the term climate change. As Florida’s newest senator, he has evolved to accept the climate phenomenon out of political expediency.

Yet both he and his replacement in the state capitol, Ron DeSantis, have so far elected to limit their response to climate change to resilience projects, such as sea walls, while steering clear of initiatives to address the root problem of carbon dioxide emissions. Such efforts would require them to concede, tacitly or explicitly, the human role in climate change and, by extension, the possibility that humans could do something to stop it. But key political donors like Americans for Prosperity Action (funded in part by Koch Industries), which spent $1.2 million backing Scott’s gubernatorial bid, would likely not be impressed.

A peek below the icing on Florida politics to the cake underneath...
https://www.forbes.com/sites/andystone/2019/09/24/florida-will-be-the-first-state-to-swing-on-climate/#2e937f7f5f5d

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/15/florida-climate-change-coastal-real-estate-rising-seas

[evertonfc]

1. Florida

is more winnable than WI if an above average GOTV efforts successful.

[appalachiablue]

2. One would think, but look at the election of Gillum last Nov. ??

[exboyfil]

4. And it covers the loss of two firewall states

Assuming rest of map holds.

[OrlandoDem2]

11. The Gillum loss in FL in 2018 should be a lesson for Democrats.

I voted for Gillum but in the primary I voted for Gwen Graham. Here’s why.

Florida is moderate. It’s nearly a 50-50 State with the GOP winning more often than not.

I knew that Graham would have more appeal than Gillum. The Trump disciple, Desantis, scared his base into thinking Gillum was a far left radical socialist. That wouldn’t ever have happened with Graham. There is a nostalgia among middle age and older voters for the days of Bob Graham.

Trump will destroy anyone but Biden with the socialist/communist meme. And Biden taps into the nostalgia for Obama.

This post I’m making deserves a thread of its own and I may post it after the holidays as we gear up for the primaries.

More than Brexit, the 2018 FL gubernatorial race is a lesson for Democrats. Find someone who can appeal to a cross-section of voters. All that said. I believe if Biden is the nominee he must give a nod to the backbone of the party - African American women - and pick someone like Harris to be his running mate.

[Miguelito Loveless]

3. I have little confidence

that Florida will wake up, even if half the peninsula is under water. Ignorance is incredibly resilient.

[delisen]

5. I do not want to bail out Florida oceanfront real estate.

I have already bailed out the big banks in 2008.

Give me a break.

Corporations: ABSORB YOUR LOSSES

[bronxiteforever]

6. Kick and recommend. Thanks for posting!

[appalachiablue]

7. From The Guardian (2/19) article linked above,

"According to a 2018 report from the Union of Concerned Scientists, it’s not just houses that will flood,

but also “roads, bridges, power plants, airports, ports, public buildings, military bases and other critical infrastructure along the coast”. Furthermore, the report indicates that financial markets have not accounted for this future downturn. The economic impact will be “staggering” and the window for towns to maintain creditworthiness and build resilience is “narrowing”."

[mitch96]

8. "and other critical infrastructure along the coast"

Nobody mentioned Turkey Point Nuclear power plant just east of Homestead Fla and 23 miles south of Miami... When the sea level rises this plant is toast... Hopefully clear heads will prevail. Also Boca Chica air field Key West. Navy his going to have to move to another airport b/c of sea level rise....
Global warming? what global warming.............
m

[appalachiablue]

9. Thanks for adding. Insanity, self destruction, misery unless change

[Maraya1969]

10. I feel like a sitting duck in FL. And I can't believe the stupidity of

FL voters! They went for Obama twice but the also voted in Rick Scott of Medicare fraud fame twice as governor and now as senator!

I would like to help get these freaks out next election but I don't know where to offer help besides just canvassing and such. The fact that the Democrats never really played up Scott's fraud charges is unbelievable to me. And the fact that they don't mention all the deaths that have occured because of Scott and now Desantis' refusal to expand Medicaid is unbelievable also!

It shouldn't be so hard to get these people out.

Who the heck do I talk to.

I think things.

EDIT: I checked on solar for my house, which is a very small 3 bedroom and the price was quoted at $29,000! I think that is absurd. Sure you get a $9,000 tax break but truthfully that doesn't help me much right now.

[Cartoonist]

12. The first to sink you mean

I can still recall the joy over in freepton when Arnold was talking about the risk to California. Not a single one of them realized Florida would go first. They were just happy that the libtards would drown.