Broward County Commissioner Kristin Jacobs signs the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact in October 2009. Photo credit: Paul Krashefski, Broward County

Kristin Jacobs at Broward County Water Matters Day. Photo credit: Paul Krashefski, Broward County

Before helping to found the Compact, she had already established herself as an environmental champion in Broward County, creating the award-winning NatureScape water conservation program and providing forward-looking leadership as the chair of the Broward County Water Advisory Board, Water Resources Task Force, and Climate Change Task Force.

During a lobbying trip to Washington, DC, in 2009, watching representatives from the four counties of southeast Florida repeatedly cross paths on Capitol Hill, she realized the region could gain enormous strength by speaking with one unified voice on climate issues. Rep. Jacobs persuaded county commissioners from Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach Counties to help her create the Compact. Within months, she led her peers and staff to organize the first Regional Climate Leadership Summit in Broward County in October 2009 and to bring the Compact document forward for unanimous approval by all four county commissions by early 2010.

As a result of her local and regional leadership, Rep. Jacobs was asked by President Obama to serve as the chair of the Governance Coordinating Committee of the National Ocean Council and as one of only three county representatives on the State, Local, and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience.

The State, Local, and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience in the State Dining Room of the White House in July 2014. Kristin Jacobs is seated at far right in the first row. Photo credit: The White House

She left the Broward County Commission in 2014 after sixteen years due to term limits but was elected in November of that year to the Florida Legislature. While serving with distinction in the Florida Legislature, helping to pass some of the first climate-related legislation in a decade and made significant progress towards construction of the C-51 Reservoir, an important regional alternative water supply project, she also became Executive Director of Resiliency Florida, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to preparing the state for the impacts of climate change and sea level rise. During the 2020 legislative session, she convinced her colleagues to overwhelmingly adopt legislation severely curtailing the trade in shark fins. Legislators voted to name the bill after her: the Kristin Jacobs Ocean Conservation Act.

Rep. Kristin Jacobs in the Florida House of Representatives. Photo credit: Rep. Jacobs’s Twitter account

For these and many other accomplishments, and a career marked by passion, creative thinking, and kindness, Kristin Jacobs was awarded the first Compact Lifetime Environmental Leadership Award at the 2019 Compact Summit in Key West.

Rep. Jacobs receiving the Compact’s 2019 Lifetime Environmental Achievement Award at the 2019 Compact Summit, accompanied by Monroe County Mayor Heather Carruthers, Broward County Commissioner Beam Furr, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, and Palm Beach County Commissioner Gregg Weiss. Photo credit: Jason Liechty

Award citation presented to Rep. Jacobs

A short video showing the first part of the surprise presentation of the award to Rep. Jacobs and her concluding remarks can be viewed here.

Tributes

In honor of Rep. Jacobs, we asked individuals and organizations that have been part of the Compact story over the past 11 years to contribute remembrances of her.
 

Katy Sorenson
Former Miami-Dade County Commissioner

Kristin Jacobs was not just the leader of the Climate Compact. She was the visionary, the architect, the convenor, and the organizer. It was a joy and a challenge to work with Kristin, as we did on the Compact, the South Florida Regional Planning Council and the Florida Association of Counties. She was smart as a whip and knew her stuff inside and out. She made policy-making fun—with a playful and wicked sense of humor, creativity, and style. She didn’t suffer fools gladly but was always available to listen, to educate, and to include. She would have made a great governor. I will miss her strong, clear voice and the warm camaraderie of our friendship.

Shelley Vana
Former Palm Beach County Commissioner

I first met Kristin when I represented Palm Beach County on the Climate Compact. As we all know, Kristin was a positive force in our world, a force to be reckoned with. However, one anecdote she told me about has remained with me all this time. It was her experience building a paver patio herself (with the help of her daughter, I think) that stands out in my memory. Kristin wanted a paver patio but did not have the money to have one installed, so she collected leftover pavers over time, and, little by little, built her patio. She was enthusiastic as she encouraged me to try this method, as she loved the process and was so happy with her result. I always thought that this story epitomized the Kristin I knew. Nothing would keep Kristin from completing her goals, and she enjoyed the journey. She lived her life this way. In so doing, Kristin made a huge impact by bringing to light the environmental concerns we all share and moving things forward to address those concerns. Kristin’s life is an example of a life well-lived. I will miss her.

George Neugent
Former Monroe County Mayor and Commissioner

I met Rep. Jacobs in 2000 while serving on the South Florida Regional Planning Council and recognized her leadership qualities immediately. Kristen reached out to me as Mayor of Monroe County about creating the Climate Change Compact and being a part of its creation. I was ecstatic to say the least. What a legacy she leaves for us all to follow! I’m saddened every day by her loss and think of her almost every day.

Monroe County Commissioner George Neugent, Palm Beach County Commissioner Shelley Vana, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson, and Broward County Commissioner Kristin Jacobs sharing a laugh at the First Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit in Fort Lauderdale in October 2009. Photo credit: Paul Krashefski, Broward County

Patti Webster
Former Environmental Projects Coordinator, Broward County

Kristin Jacobs was my long-time special friend even before she entered politics. I was privileged to watch her grow from homeowners’ association leadership to a state legislator. While her life ended way too soon, she will always be remembered for all the good things she accomplished and the many family and friends who dearly loved her.

Defending injustices was in Kristin’s nature—whether she defended women or the environment she was fearless, dedicated, and persistent. She fought brave and hard and often won battles for the Everglades against big industries like sugar and oil. Kristin always made a difference without making enemies.

Her greatest accomplishment was perhaps the leadership role she played to establish and implement the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Compact, which has become a national model and was recognized by President Obama. Kristin will forever be remembered for her life’s work and for the wonderful spirit and dedication she brought to everyone who was lucky enough to know her. Kristin was Broward County’s Grand Lady. 

Jennifer Jurado, Ph.D.
Chief Resilience Officer and Director of the Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division, Broward County

There are so many personal experiences I would like to share as I think about Kristin, but my overall telling would be one of endless drive, creativity, and ability. What fortune to arrive at the County and be encouraged by such a passionate leader. Her mind was always racing, she inspired innovation, and she dug in. What stories to tell. :) She was, of course, the visionary for the Compact. I recall her conviction in the planning for the first Regional Compact Summit as we huddled around a whiteboard. With fervor, she shared her vision. Kristin was hands-on and tireless. She encouraged all of us to do more, better, and together, and she led the charge. She was a leader who gave with her heart, always gracious. Thankfully, our community will forever reflect the rewards of her service. But for her friends and colleagues, she will be forever missed and cherished.

Dr. Jennifer Jurado, Broward County Chief Resilience Officer, and Rep. Kristin Jacobs at the 2019 Compact Summit in Key West. Photo credit: Jason Liechty

Jim Murley
Chief Resilience Officer, Miami-Dade County

Kristin Jacobs stands out to me as one of a handful of elected officials who exemplifies true public service. She was dedicated to the citizens of the districts she was elected to represent in Broward County and later the Florida House of Representatives. At the same time, she always balanced neighborhood needs with the general requirements of the greater County and the entire State. She had the vision to join others in creating one of the first multi-county collaborations focused on climate change and later became an advocate of regional “compacts.” Not to be overlooked was her nurturing, guiding, and elevating of the work of her staff. She always attributed her successes to the hard work of her team. That is the mark of a true leader. 

Jon Van Arnam
Deputy County Administrator, Palm Beach County

We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Kristin Jacobs. In a time when few elected officials in Florida were willing to discuss climate change, she stepped up and gave Southeast Florida a voice, a voice that grew into a regional collaborative that has been instrumental and influential in addressing climate change on a regional, state, and national level. Thank you, Kristin.

Susy Torriente
Global Technology Leader for City Resilience, Jacobs
Former Chief Resilience Officer and Assistant City Manager, City of Miami Beach

Sometimes in the course of your career, you are fortunate to meet extraordinary people who inspire and influence your path. This happened to me in 2009 when I came across the dynamic duo of Broward County – Dr. Jurado and Commissioner Jacobs. I will admit that at first I was perhaps a bit scared and felt the need to be competitive. But soon that turned into admiration for the depth of knowledge and passion for our body of work. Kristin was such a talented and gifted advocate for south Florida. I admired the way she navigated unchartered political waters with persistence and a smile. I appreciated her political courage and her unwavering support of the staff. Many have heard me say that working with the partners of the SE Florida Climate Compact is the most rewarding highlight of my career. Thank you, Kristin, for inspiring me. Thank you for bringing us together. 

Nichole Hefty
Deputy Resilience Officer, Miami-Dade County

I am so very grateful for Kristin's vision of a unified voice and action for Southeast Florida through the creation of the Compact. We have all benefited tremendously from her leadership and tireless support, and she will be sincerely and deeply missed.

Steve Adams
Director of Urban Resilience, Institute for Sustainable Communities

I shall never forget my first encounter with Representative Jacobs in the spring of 2009, during the Great Recession.

My job at the time with the State of Florida involved helping local governments access available dollars for energy and climate projects from the federal government’s Recovery Act funding. Due to the federal government’s formula for distributing this aid to local governments, Broward County was ineligible for direct funding. One day, I learned I was about to get a call from a Broward County elected official about that outcome and that she wasn't happy.  I took the call one evening and felt the full force of the-Commissioner jacobs' displeasure. I heard her passion for the good work that she had led in Broward County and the many opportunities for investable projects that resulted. After she realized that the funding formula was a federal decision rather than one made by us in state government, our conversation turned toward what we were doing with the larger pot of funds that we were programming for allocation to cities and counties that weren't eligible for direct federal assistance.

Just a few short months later, I departed government and found myself in the enviable position of working with the Commissioner, her elected colleagues in Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties, and their able staff members in forming the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact. In working with the Compact over the years, I had many opportunities to enjoy her company and her leadership. I will not forget my last encounter with Representative Jacobs - a precious few moments sitting together in Key West on the sidelines of the 2019 Compact Summit. We talked about the upcoming legislative session, the Compact, of course, and a bit about her health. But true to form, she was most interested in hearing about my family, my two girls in particular. We parted with a hug. 

Rep. Kristin Jacobs speaking to the 2017 Broward Leaders Water and Climate Academy in January 2018. Photo credit: Paul Krashefski, Broward County

Frank Bernardino
Partner, Anfield Consulting

A catchphrase often linked to outdoor recreation or the environmental movement is “leave a better place than the one we find.” Kristin embodied that phrase. Whether it was her fight for future water supplies or her efforts to educate future leaders about the importance of resiliency, her career is marked by groundbreaking initiatives that will impact the lives of Floridians for generations. The Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, the Broward Leaders Water and Climate Academy, the first-ever Florida Legislative Resiliency Workshop, her continued advocacy efforts for critical funding for alternative water supplies, her tireless work to found Resiliency Florida, the first statewide non-profit dedicated to making Florida more resilient, and in 2020 passage of the Kristin Jacobs Oceans Conservation Act, are but a few examples of how she left the world a better place. Now the challenge is ours to carry on her legacy. 

Drew Bartlett
Executive Director, South Florida Water Management District

What a saddening loss. I’ll remember Rep. Kristin Jacobs not only for her passion on environmental issues, but also for her friendly, engaging, and humorous personality. Although I must say she was more pointed than humorous when I was before her in a Committee meeting. I had the honor of working with her over the last 13 years as Deputy Secretary at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and as Executive Director at the South Florida Water Management District. She absolutely made a difference for Florida’s environment, especially in the field of water resources. I am a better administrator because I knew her, and Florida is a better place because of her.  After working hard on environmental policies and issues, she absolutely left them better than she found them. She will always be remembered fondly by the SFWMD family. Rest easy, Representative Jacobs.

Carolina Maran, Ph.D.
District Resiliency Officer, South Florida Water Management Distric

Water Resources. Our precious environment. Changing climate. Resiliency. Representative Jacobs represents the richest understanding about the connection among such values, along with a highly admirable capacity to achieve concrete results. Her passion, commitment, dedication, and ability to meaningfully overcome associated complexities are embedded into a lot of what is being accomplished in Florida today. I am truly honored that I had the opportunity to help implement some of her initiatives, including the Broward Leaders Water and Climate Academy and the Southeast Florida Climate Compact. Her legacy is a true inspiration for us in continuing her mission. Her beliefs will survive in all of us who are lucky to be part of what she helped to establish.

The Nature Conservancy, Florida Chapter

Our tribute to Representative Jacobs comes from the perspective of a public interest conservation group that engaged with her on many environmental policy issues before the Florida Legislature and as a founder and leader of the Southeast Florida Climate Compact. As a legislator, Representative Jacobs was an environmental policy leader through her advocacy for coral reef protection, water quality, and climate action. Unlike many of her legislative colleagues, she was never afraid to take the longer view, particularly in the case of climate policy. She provided the model of constructive collaboration and challenged us to meet policymakers who were uncomfortable addressing climate change where they are and talk about climate change in terms of problems state and local governments must address every day—infrastructure, emergency management, beach erosion, etc. She challenged environmental groups to not let the perfect be the enemy of the good and to move outside our comfort zone to work with business leaders and legislators on both sides of the aisle.

At the Broward Water and Climate Academy this past January, Representative Jacobs gave an incredible overview of the water quality and climate challenges facing the state. She spoke poignantly that she would not live to see many of the benefits of the water quality and climate policies that she was working hard to pass, but that she was doing it for her grandchildren and the children and grandchildren of Florida. We can honor her life by finishing the job of achieving comprehensive climate action in Florida.

Rep. Kristin Jacobs is survived by her three children and three grandchildren, her boyfriend, and her ex-husband, along with many other family members and friends.

As her staff and friends posted to her Twitter account upon her passing: “…it was her life’s calling to put good things into the world with the hopes of making it a better & happier place….Her legacy will live on through all of us.”

Rest in peace, Kristin.

Rep. Kristin Jacobs at the 2019 Compact Summit in Key West. Photo credit: Monroe County

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