Summit makes official compact between South Florida counties to combat global warming
With over 1800 linear feet of canals, global warming and rises in sea level could be a real problem if local governments don’t join the effort and plan ahead to mitigate the effects. And according to county commissioner
George Nugent, Monroe County, Kristen Jacobs, Broward County, Katy Sorenson, Miami-Dade and Shelly Vana, Palm Beach County, finished signing the resolution to work together on combatting climate change.
Kristen Jacobs, we’re already seeing the effect of global warming in South Florida.
“Just a month ago, water gathered and would not leave the performing arts center,” said Jacobs, adding that water was beginning to flood the roads in the finger isles of Las Olas. “It’s high tide (from the recent closeness of the moon) combined with a rain event—and it’s just every day rain (not a major storm).
“We’re seeing flooding on a regular basis all around the county,” said Jacobs, adding that by 2020, sea level is expected to rise three inches. “And it’s not because someone forgot to clean the drains—it’s a result of climate change.”
To really begin the official process of looking at global warming, Jacobs signed a resolution with commissioners from Miami, Monroe and Palm Beach counties during last week’s Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit. The Broward Commission has already approved the resolution which highlights a partnership with the four counties to help alleviate some of the risks from low elevations and saltwater intrusion, which has already started. Photos handed out during the event from Key West show multiple streets flooding with sea water through the drains from the recent extreme high tides.
“I want people to know that climate change is real—warmer oceans lead to rising sea levels that compromise fresh water wells, and an increase in floods that don’t drain,” said Jacobs, a well-known local leader in climate change and green issues.
Flooding in Key West recently. Salt water is starting to permeate the drainage system there. Eventually Broward will suffer the same.
As a government official, Jacobs said that municipalities will need to start looking at their infrastructure and sewer systems by working with engineers to change how they work. Broward County already has, and will continue to make changes to combat global warming, she said.
Related posts:
- Counties Prepare for Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit
- Southeast Florida Counties Call for Action on Oil Disaster
- Rise in sea levels forces drastic changes on Florida
- SOUTH FLORIDA LEGISLATORS FORM HAITI RELIEF TASK FORCE
- Broward participating in Earth Hour on Saturday, March 27
Short URL: https://browardnetonline.com/?p=3804
Posted by Andrea Freygang on Oct 27 2009. Filed under Broward County, Environmental, Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Local news, Miami, Palm Beach, Water management, Weather. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
