Florida may soon omit 'climate change' from state laws
Florida is poised to remove references to climate change in state laws, focusing instead on energy affordability and security, a shift led by Governor Ron DeSantis.
Brendan Farrington reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- The proposed legislation reverses previous policies that prioritized climate change in energy decisions, introduced by former Governor Charlie Crist.
- Critics, including Crist now a Democrat, express concerns over Florida's vulnerability to sea-level rise, criticizing the timing of the policy shift.
- The bill, supported by Republicans and opposed by Democrats, must be signed or vetoed by DeSantis by May 15.
Key quote:
“It’s disappointing to see a continuing lurch in the wrong direction, particularly when Florida, with our coastline, is probably the most vulnerable to rising sea levels, I mean if we don’t address it, who’s going to? It breaks my heart.”
— Former Governor Charlie Crist
Why this matters:
This legislative change could significantly impact Florida, a state especially at risk from rising sea levels and severe weather. Shifting focus from climate change to energy affordability may undermine efforts to address these environmental challenges.
In 2022, Peter Dykstra urged us to treat climate deniers as accomplices.
