By Bryan Boggiano
Coral Springs became the eighth city in Broward County to sign the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Action Pledge, promising to undertake various initiatives to adapt to and mitigate the effects of human-induced climate change.
Coral Springs joins Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Plantation, Cooper City, Miramar, Lauderhill, and Wilton Manors.
At their Wednesday meeting, the city commission decided to join efforts spearheaded by the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact.
The compact is a partnership between Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, implement adaptation and mitigation measures, and build resilience, according to the compact’s website.
Founded in 2010, the compact released its third and most recent regional climate action plan (RCAP 3.0) in 2022. They subsequently unveiled the climate action pledge earlier in 2023.
It includes a voluntary framework for local and tribal governments containing 11 focus areas developed by 150 subject area experts from the public, private, academic, and non-profit sectors.
Focus areas include agriculture, energy, equity, informed and engaged communities, natural systems, public health, public policy advocacy, regional economic resilience, risk reduction and emergency management, sustainable communities and transportation, and water. Each contains a risk analysis and a list of recommended actions.
The framework seeks to guide, align, and support local and regional climate action to advance toward a shared vision of a low-carbon, healthy, and prosperous region that addresses climate change equitably, according to city documents.
According to city documents, Southeast Florida is one of the most at-risk areas due to climate change. Potential effects include sea level rise, elevated groundwater and water table levels, rainfall intensification, extreme heat, and ocean acidification.
RCAP 3.0 states climate change is a threat multiplier, meaning it will make historically underserved communities, such as low-income individuals and people of color, disproportionately more vulnerable to its effects. RCAP 3.0’s measures consider this, tailoring recommended actions to the community level and fostering community involvement.
The city commission welcomed the initiative, voting 3-0 to sign the pledge. Mayor Scott Brook and Commissioner Joshua Simmons were absent.
City staff and elected officials noted that while the city already champions various environmentally friendly initiatives, including establishing the Office of Sustainability, the pledge is a critical step.
“It’s very important that we sign on,” said Commissioner Nancy Metayer Bowen. “I just think it’s just something that is really impactful for our communities, simply because we are all impacted by climate change.”
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