Here's why a retired admiral thinks climate change denial hurts Florida

[Zorro]

As the year draws to a close, I couldn’t help but think back on the 2024 hurricane season. I thought not just about the devastation faced by some of our fellow Floridians, especially those on the Gulf Coast, but also our human family in the southern Appalachians. Who would have thought that brave souls in western North Carolina would still be trying to recover from Hurricane Helene in late December?

And then I thought back to earlier this year, when Florida passed a law that, in effect, removed the words “climate change” from state laws. The move came after 2023 was the hottest year on record, and 2024 is set to be even hotter, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This kind of legislation is not what the good people of Florida deserve and is a failure of policy and, ultimately, leadership.

Removing the words “climate change” from state statutes reminded me of the words attributed to Galileo after he was forced to recant his belief that the Earth revolves around the sun. He is said to have uttered, “Eppur si muove,” an Italian phrase that translates to, “And yet it moves.” Our state laws might not want to acknowledge climate change, and yet it changes.

I remember a conservative think tank on the military implications of the opening of the Arctic Ocean due to a warming climate. It was a good discussion and the findings were well received, but I vividly recall one of the panel members closing remark: “Let’s remember that correlation is not causation.” His comments referred to my illustration of the significant retreat of sea ice due to warming temperatures. For me, these comments signified one of the major problems in addressing climate change — an unwillingness by some to be open to a meaningful conversation, despite the rigorous science supporting the data. Instead, they fall back on pat talking points. It also was a reminder of the influence large donors and industry-funded think tanks have on policy.

https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2024/12/27/heres-why-retired-admiral-thinks-climate-change-denial-hurts-florida-column/

[sop]

1. 'Investigation shows 42% of Florida lawmakers have personal ties to real estate. Here's why that may be a problem.'

"Many believe the back-to-back hurricanes that hit Florida this past fall should be a wake-up call about the need to rethink how and where real estate development is allowed in the state."

"Instead, builders and developers continue to add new condo high-rises and luxury homes in the very places most vulnerable to storm surges − along or near the Sunshine State's coasts."

"And it's not just because that's where most people moving to Florida want to live.
Some state lawmakers personally also stand to benefit."

"An investigation by the USA TODAY Network-Florida of the occupations and sources of income of current state lawmakers found more than 40 percent − at least 66 out of 159 − have direct ties to the real estate industry."

"Ben Wilcox, research director for a citizens watchdog group in Tallahassee called Integrity Florida, said he finds it troubling that so many state lawmakers have personal ties to the real estate industry."

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/state/2023/03/29/are-florida-lawmakers-real-estate-ties-a-conflict-of-interest/69946829007/

[Historic NY]

3. Buying a property is fine, getting it insured, well thats a near impossibility.

Condos are not immune either

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/florida-homeowners-fear-soaring-insurance-cost-after-hurricanes-2024-10-17/

[mitch96]

5. It's not only the direct insurance costs... The indirect costs due to threats from insurance companies.

Our insurance company said we need a new roof. The roof was 19 years old. It was warrentied by the roofing tile mfg for 25 years. The insurance company said that they believed that number was inflated. They said it was only good for really only 20 years. So now we only had a one year life on the roof and the insurance company said it had to be replaced or THEY COULD NOT INSURE US.
Gun to the head maybe?
So we went ahead and and got a new roof and along with that a healthy "special assessment".
Even with the new roof we are expecting a rise in insurance costs..
So it's not only the direct cost of insurance.
What are you gonna do and where are you gonna go? "They" got you by the short hairs..
uff
m

[3Hotdogs]

2. In N.J. and probably other states, there is the conflict between new building and expanded flooding zones..

Then in N.J. add multiple 200,000 s.f. warehouses that are being built. Roofs and asphalt do not allow water to be absorbed into the ground

[walkingman]

4. Climate Change is affecting everybody and it doesn't seem to be in the top 10

of our priorities. We had a clear choice this last election, and "we the people" made the choice to ignore the reality of our climate crisis.

So now the EPA will be dismantled, we will drill more, pull out of the Paris Agreement, and any progress that we might have made under the Biden administration will be erased.

So sad and we only have ourselves to blame.

[Timeflyer]

6. The climate disorder and disruption that the next generation is going to have to deal with are criminal, but the

perpetrators and and their greedy enablers will be gone (somewhere very hot, I hope).