Orlando protesters highlight problems of warming climate

A small environmental protest in Orlando played out this morning over recent outbreaks of toxic algae and a major hurricane now taking aim at the East Coast.

Gathered at a corner of Lake Eola Park, state Sen. Victor Torres, D-Kissimmee, was joined by environmental activists from For Our Future Florida and other groups concerned that years of ignoring climate worries will have a price.

“One year ago, Hurricane Irma revealed what the future holds for Floridians as warmer waters produced by climate change produce stronger and more dangerous storms,” Torres said.

Researchers generally don’t attribute characteristics of a particular storm to a warmer climate, although Hurricane Harvey’s deluge last year over East Texas has been linked to evidence that tropical systems are intensifying.

“And let me tell you that this thing with the red tide and the algae, it’s incredible to see the destruction and see thousands of fish on the beaches,” Torres said, speaking of a destructive growth of algae along inland and offshore waters at Fort Myers. “We should have addressed this issue a long time ago.”

Also speaking was Leslie Poole, assistant professor of environmental issues at Rollins College.

“Storms are getting bigger, they are getting more violent and they are moving slower and dumping more water,” Poole said. “This is what the future of hurricanes may look like and that’s not good news for Florida. We are ground zero for hurricanes.”

One of the protesters, Chuck Dent of For Our Future Florida, added that Floridians depend on the state’s natural wellbeing in more way than one.

“If you are living in Florida and you don’t care about the environment you are kind of in the wrong place,” Dent said. “We’ve got to have a healthy environment for our economy but also for our lives.”