The climate emergency was already a hot political issue in Florida long before the devastating hurricanes Helen and Milton hit the state in quick succession in recent weeks.
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who considers global warming a “left-wing thing,” signed a bill in May that removed the term “climate change” from state law, effectively consigning Florida to a fossil-fuel-burning future. , angered environmental advocates.
They say his comments and actions echo long-standing climate change denialism by state leaders, including his predecessor, Gov. Rick Scott, who is seeking re-election to the U.S. Senate next month in a close race against Democrat Debbie Mucarsel. It was considered to be just the latest act. -Powell.
Scott also censored talk about the climate crisis. Former Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson said Scott, who was nicknamed “Red Tide Lick” by opponents for cutting $700 million in water management funds meant to combat toxic algae blooms, , said it had “systematically” dismantled “this state’s environmental authority.”
Now, as weary Floridians head to the polls next month, many areas still suffering from the deadly storm surge and high winds from the two hurricanes say the twin disasters are fueling some kind of backlash. There’s evidence.
Mr. DeSantis is not on the ballot, but Mr. Scott is, and so are many of the Republican supermajorities in the state House and Senate, blindly loyal to the policies of both governors.
Some voters may have experienced or witnessed the wrath of Herren, Milton, and other recent cyclones in Florida, and the long history of inaction or denial in the face of rising sea levels and record-setting records. They say they have experienced frustration and that climate issues are at the top of their minds. Experts say ocean heat is driving increasingly powerful storms.
The movement is most pronounced among younger voters and first-time voters, and advocates say they are registering and voting early in unprecedented numbers.
Florida Future Leaders President Jaden D’Onofrio said fundraising efforts by his group and others have led to “record early voting rates” on several campuses, including Florida State University, Florida Atlantic University and the University of Miami. He said that the students were working on the project with great enthusiasm. Climate debate.
“There was a video where a South Florida meteorologist ended up crying on the air. Some of my non-political friends were like, ‘Hey, that’s pretty insane.’ was sent to me. What the hell is going on here? ‘ he said.
“So if something like that resonates with young voters who are generally out of politics, that means a lot, and that’s why we’re taking this issue so hard. We have distributed over 175,000 pieces of literature across the state, 40,000 of which are about climate change.”
Donofrio said his group intentionally targets politicians’ records.
“Rick Scott is the worst of the worst when it comes to climate change, so we’re going to send text messages to young people, especially Mr. Scott, reminding them of climate change and how Republicans have voted on this issue. “They sent me a thousand letters,” he said.
“We have all these Republican congressmen who voted against Fema (Federal Emergency Management Agency) funding. When you’re campaigning in a district that has those congressmen, you’re saying, ‘Hey, your congressman was hit by a hurricane. It’s easy to bring up, “You voted against federal funding for Fema and emergency supplies for your county that you just received.” What do you think about it?
“Of course, the answer is, ‘What’s wrong with that man, woman, or whoever?'” It’s really that simple. ”
Tatiana Bell, 20, a third-year business administration student at the Tampa campus of historically black Florida A&M University (FAMU), said the hurricane was a “stressful” time and that both Helen and Milton were at one point in their lives. He said the damage was expected. Hit the city directly.
“They said, ‘Okay, all students can stay in their dorms,’ but then a few hours later they said, ‘Okay, students have to leave campus, go to a shelter or go home. ” said Bell, campus president of Do Something, a youth-based service organization.
“People were very concerned and trying to find out if you could go home. In a situation like this, all students are lucky enough to get on a plane and take different actions to ensure their safety. Not that.”
Bell said concerns and threats to personal safety from severe weather events have made many students more aware that the climate emergency is an election issue.
“Honestly, right after funding our university, we’re like top two. There’s no way we could start the fall semester and before we know it, there’s a hurricane coming our way,” she said. Ta.
Coral Springs resident Ben Groeneveld moved to South Florida from Wisconsin with his family in 2009 and has become increasingly concerned about the changing environment. Last year, he won election to the local water management district’s board of directors and helped save thousands of trees that were wanted to be cut down so they wouldn’t pose a threat during a hurricane.
“Since we moved, we’ve started to see issues like stronger hurricanes, sea level rise, and flooding,” he says.
“This is a huge problem here, and we need to be more aware of what’s going on. On a personal level, especially as the leaders of Florida State, it’s their place to deny it. I don’t think it’s appropriate.”
Groeneveldt plans to vote for the Democratic candidate on November 5th. Whitney, the middle daughter of three children, just turned 18 and will be voting for the first time.
“We’re having conversations, and when they talk and think about their future, there’s certainly concern about what it’s going to be like, is it going to snow or not? Will it be too hot? Or is it too cold? These things happen,” he said.
D’Onofrio said it will be young voters, such as Groeneveld’s daughter and the students he has worked with on campus, who will be driving generational change in climate politics, which is why groups like Florida Future Leaders. He said that these efforts are important. It’s very important.
“One of the things people always say is that young voters don’t come to the polls, but my answer is always that it’s not that they don’t care, it’s that they want to be seen, heard and spoken to. I’ve never felt that way.”
“The difference now is that we are all young people talking to young people, we understand our generation and we know how to talk to them. You don’t want to talk to young people about climate change or any other issue. It doesn’t work. We’re all 20 years old, and we’re talking to each other, and it resonates with us. Masu.”
