Dem lawmakers double down on DeSantis to declare ‘climate emergency’

Central Florida Democratic legislators and activists called Wednesday for stronger leadership in tackling the climate crisis as the state and world prepare for more challenges.

Central Florida state Reps. Anna Eskamani, Carlos Guillermo Smith and Joy Goff-Marcil, during a virtual news conference hosted by Eskamani, called on Gov. Ron DeSantis to take a stronger stance in mitigating the damage created by humans impacting the climate. She, along with advocates, encouraged the governor to enact policies that could not only address the crisis but also strengthen

Florida.

“We’re gathered here today with fellow lawmakers and community advocates to amplify the need for Florida to declare a climate emergency,” Eskamani said.

Her words come on the first day of the Atlantic hurricane season, which already has two systems the National Hurricane Center is monitoring for potential threats.

In April more than 30 lawmakers, including Eskamani, Smith and Goff-Marcil, signed a letter on Earth Day urging DeSantis to declare a “state of climate emergency.” The letter called on the governor to compose a task force of environmental justice experts, scientists and local community leaders to inform his decision-making to deal with future climate events.

Additionally, lawmakers called for a system that would identify and measure Florida’s greenhouse gas emissions by source, industry and county.

Prior to the letter DeSantis hadn’t invested in climate change mitigation efforts, dismissing it as “left-wing stuff,” said Aliki Moncrief, of the Florida Conservation Voters advocacy group. Moncrief further criticized legislative leadership by accusing it as actively preventing climate action.

Last week climate change was brought up by some legislators during a special session on property insurance, labeling it as a cause of rising costs, but “was deemed unnecessary to address and essentially ignored,” according to Eskamani.

“While lawmakers here today are trying to solve this problem, the governor and the leadership at the Legislature haven’t only failed to act [but] have actually stood in the way of progress,” Moncrief said.

Moncrief pointed to many proposed bills the Legislature has denied hearings to, including those that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, add solar panels to emergency shelters and add protections for outdoor workers from excessive heat days.

“It’s not a question of can we pass these bills?”

Moncrief said. “It’s, will legislative leaders even give them the time of day? Climate change is not partisan, even if [DeSantis] wishes it was so he can continue to ignore it.”

Democrat lawmakers also spoke up about the economic gains Florida stands to make if it embraces climate change prevention strategies. During the last two hurricane seasons the United States suffered $145 billion worth of damage, according to the NOAA.

Over half of the damage — $75 billion — was caused by one storm: 2021’s Hurricane Ida, which brought tremendous flooding as a post-tropical storm in the northeastern U.S.

Lawmakers not only pushed Wednesday for strategies to help stave off future disasters but also encouraged policies on which Florida can capitalize.

Rep. Smith said Florida has a huge potential to capitalize on federal funds from President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better approach, which would invest in clean energy jobs such as solar panel installation jobs — a good-paying job, Smith said.

“It’s past time for Florida to finally utilize federal funds and step up as an international leader in energy independence, resiliency, stability and job creation,” he said. “We are the Sunshine State.”