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Keeping Florida, Florida

Environmental Defense Fund released the first in a four-part film series entitled “Keeping Florida, Florida” showcasing the urgency of Florida’s climate crisis and the opportunity state and federal leaders have to build long-term resilience for the state’s communities, economy and ecosystems. EDF will release the series in four installments, each featuring different regions of the state and unique perspectives from local leaders discussing on-the-ground climate impacts and highlighting solutions that address these risks. To watch the video, click HERE.

Florida Politics: Dawn Shirreffs: Florida takes strides on climate change, but more can be done

These are important first steps, but they are only first steps. In recent months, Florida began taking important strides to face climate change. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a new Resiliency Florida program in January that he said would “tackle the challenges posed by flooding, intensifying storm events and sea level rise.” In addition, Senate President Wilton Simpson and House Speaker Chris Sprowls proclaimed that “Florida remains particularly vulnerable to the risk of flooding caused by sea level rise” and successfully guided an important resiliency bill through the legislature. To read more, click HERE.

Florida Politics: Environmental Defense Fund focused on resiliency, electric cars

The environmental group says ways to protect Florida’s economy and ecology. For all the progress with investing in water quality projects in Florida, ongoing threats to the environment remain. The state, for example, remains third in the nation in carbon emissions, with some counties producing more pollution than others. To read more, click HERE.

Florida Daily: Dawn Shirreffs: The Cost of Inaction on Climate Change

Floridians are already experiencing the impacts of climate change— from persistent flooding to higher temperatures. Those threats to our health and economy will compound over the next 20 years if climate change is left unchecked. Understanding these near-term climate costs, which range from higher electricity costs to lower tax revenues, is essential as the state and its residents seek to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. To read more, click HERE.

Florida Daily TV Episode 27 - Ed Dean with Dawn Shirreffs - Environmental Defense Fund.

Florida Daily TV – Episode 27. FloridaDaily.com publisher Ed Dean discusses the latest political news with editor Kevin Derby and guest Dawn Shirreffs of the Environmental Defense Fund. To watch, click HERE.

Florida Politics: Torend Collins: Charging ahead — why I made the switch to an electric vehicle

EVs can help decrease emissions contributing to climate change and reduce my costs of vehicle ownership. As an electric vehicle (EV) owner, I get asked many questions. “How far can you go with a fully charged battery?”“Are EVs fast? “What about maintenance?” But the one question everyone always asks is: “Why did you choose to purchase an EV?” To read more, click HERE.

Tampa Bay Times: Environmental group wants Super Bowl visitors to think about climate change

Have you seen the billboards? They are meant to draft on hype around the big game. The idea is that anyone looking up at the football will then be forced to think about climate change.

The Florida office of the Environmental Defense Fund, seeking to draft on hype around the big game, has arranged for at least three billboards to carry a green message in Tampa for the Super Bowl. The ads read: “94% of Floridians Agree that Climate Change is Real.” White block text is set on a football field backdrop, next to a ball. The billboard directs readers to a website with policy proposals for how Florida lawmakers could begin to address the problem. To read more, click HERE.

Florida Politics: Jeff Brandes’ electric and autonomous vehicle bills zoom forward

One bill raises registration fees on electric cars to make up for lost gas tax. The Senate Transportation Committee passed a series of forward-looking bills on electric and autonomous vehicles. Senator Jeff Brandes said the legislation will keep Florida leading the pack on the path to the future “Florida really is a leader in this conversation,” he said. “This keeps Florida in the driver’s seat.” To read more, click HERE.

Florida Politics: EDF Florida releases Legislative Session halftime update

The report details where things stand with EV and sea level rise bills. EDF Florida this week issued a “Halftime Report” updating supporters on where things stand with key environmental legislation related to electric vehicles and sea level rise. The football-themed report, part of EDF’s ongoing “Let’s Tackle Climate Change” campaign that kicked off with billboards around Raymond James Stadium during Super Bowl LV, will be advertised in major newspapers along with a digital campaign on social media. To read more, click HERE.

Florida Politics: Environmental group outlines game plan to tackle climate change in Super Bowl ads

Environmental Defense Fund Florida rolled out a Super Bowl-themed ad campaign Monday that aims to educate Florida residents and lawmakers on ways the state can combat climate change. The “Let’s Tackle Climate Change” campaign is a dual threat, with billboards going up near Raymond James Stadium in Tampa and a digital ad blitz on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. To read more, click HERE.

EDF: Poll: Floridians expect their political leaders to address climate change head-on

EDF released a post-election poll offering the first look into how climate change is changing the landscape and politics in Florida. Dawn Shirreffs’, EDF Florida Director observed, “Climate change is no longer a partisan issue in Florida. Voters are aware of the economic impact and a substantial percentage from both parties, and those with no party affiliation, expect their political leaders to address it head-on.” To read more, click HERE.