Across the Region

Miami-Dade Approves EV-Ready Ordinance

According to the Compact’s recently published regional greenhouse gas inventory, the transportation sector accounts for nearly 50% of regional emissions, with on-road transportation accounting for most of this sector’s emissions. In working to reduce emissions from transportation where possible, local governments across Southeast Florida are preparing the region for increased electric vehicle (EV) adoption, a demonstrated decarbonization pathway. Miami-Dade County recently advanced the Regional Climate Action Plan’s recommendation to "Promote Community Use of Electric Vehicles" (EF-12) by passing an ordinance that requires all new multifamily residential buildings as well as office and business properties (with some exceptions) to have a set number of EV-ready parking spaces with level 2 charging infrastructure and signage.

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Miami Beach Improves its Community Rating System Score and Increases Insurance Savings  

Through policy leadership and collaboration across multiple city departments, the City of Miami Beach has successfully improved its Community Rating System (CRS) score from Class 6 to Class 5, which will increase flood insurance premiums savings from 20 to 25% citywide effective May 1, 2019. The CRS is a voluntary program under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) allowing communities to earn flood insurance discounts of up to 45%. Under FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), cities can earn points for conducting floodplain management activities that surpass the minimum NFIP requirements, ranging from preserving open space to disseminating information on flood insurance to relocating flood-prone structures. Miami Beach’s improved score is expected to increase community insurance savings by $1.7 million annually.

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Dania Beach Studies the Economic Implications of Adaptation for Coastal Businesses 

In furtherance of RCAP’s recommendation to "Integrate Resilience and Economic Development" (ER-5), Dania Beach conducted a first-of-its-kind micro-scale economic study to analyze the future implications of adaptation for its coastal business corridor, and provide recommendations for fostering economic resilience. The study modeled the potential impacts of future coastal flooding and the benefits of adaptation on property and asset values, the tax base, and the local business labor pool. Recommendations included pursuing life-cycle cost assessments to optimize timing of adaptation projects and planning for long-term risk to minimize business disruption during construction.

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Monroe County Advances Road Elevation Project 

This year, Monroe County has taken steps to adapt the county road systems to projected sea level rise and increased frequency of king tide flooding. In accordance with the Regional Climate Action Plan’s recommendation to prioritize adaptation investments to reduce the impact of flooding and sea level rise on transportation infrastructure, particularly on evacuation routes (RR-6), Monroe County is using local modeling of tidal flood behavior and the County’s mobile LiDAR elevation data to create a roads adaptation plan for Keys’ 300+ miles of roads. The County is working with infrastructure engineering firm, HDR, to analyze the impacts of current and projected sea level rise on all county roads, develop an implementation plan, and set a timeline to adapt roads for sea level rise. The roads vulnerability analysis will consider population density, environmental and site conditions, and frequency of flooding.

Read more about the project.

Town of Palm Beach Conducts Vulnerability Assessment 

One of the first steps in building community resilience to climate change is to assess risks and vulnerabilities of the people and assets that could be impacted by sea level rise and storm surge outlined in the Regional Climate Action Plan’s recommendation RR-1. The coastal town of Palm Beach, home to approximately 9,000 residents, recently completed this recommendation by working with the Woods Hole Group to conduct their Coastal Flood Vulnerability Assessment. The analysis set out to answer the following questions:

• What are the chances infrastructure will flood today and in the future?

• What assets are vulnerable and what is the priority?

• What are potential interventions to manage risks and improve coastal resiliency, and when should they be implemented?

Read more. 

Upcoming Events

11th Annual Climate Leadership Summit

SAVE THE DATE:
December 3-5, 2019

The Compact is pleased to announce the dates for the 11th Annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit! Monroe County will host the Summit December 3-5, 2019 at the Casa Marina Key West. 

Registration is not yet open, but please contact Rhonda Haag for questions on involvement, or to sponsor the Summit. Visit the Summit web page in coming months for additional details!

Miami-Dade County's Sea Level Rise Project Stakeholder Workshop

News

The Climate Compact Begins Five-Year Update of Regionally Unified Sea Level Rise Projection

One of the core regional planning tools produced by the Climate Compact is its regionally unified sea level rise projection, used to inform local hazard mitigation strategies, comprehensive plans, stormwater plans, and other local government and private sector planning, design, and permitting requirements for infrastructure. The Compact first published the projection in 2011, and updated the projection in 2015. The projection is updated every five to seven years, or sooner, as a result of ongoing advancements in scientific knowledge via the peer-reviewed literature related to global climate change and potential impacts.

The Compact plans to update the projection in late 2019 and is convening a technical advisory work group responsible for its update, composed of experts within the academic community, as well as local, regional, and federal government. The process of updating the projection began in February through a Compact survey of multi-sectoral decision-makers and stakeholders to understand how the projection is currently being utilized, and how the tool could be improved to increase its use and application. Following work conducted by the technical advisory work group, the Compact expects to open a public comment period for external review and input over the summer. More information will be forthcoming as the process develops.

Broward County Welcomes New Resilience Staff 

New Report: Regional Collaboratives for Climate Change—A State of the Art

The Invading Sea, Unprecedented Media Collaboration on Sea Level Rise, Wins National Award

More than a year ago, an unprecedented media collaboration—The Invading Sea—was created by the editorial boards of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post, and WLRN Public Media to address the need for greater public awareness on sea level rise. Through this collaboration, The Invading Sea has raised the region’s collective voice to communicate the nature of the climate change threat, help people understand what’s at stake, and engage leaders on choices and solutions. In recognition of this unique approach, the South Florida Sun Sentinel recently won the Burl Osborne Award for Editorial Leadership, a national reporting and opinion writing award recognizing editorial writing that makes a difference in a community for its work on The Invading Sea.

The Florida Institute of Health Innovation Selected to Lead Regional Hurricane Response Hub

Miami-Dade County Office of Resilience is hiring

The Miami Dade County Office of Resilience hiring two Resiliency Coordinators. The first opening, Resiliency Coordinator 1, will focus on adaptation and sea level rise, and assist with research, analysis, and technical assistance regarding sea level rise adaptation and risk mitigation.

The second position, Resiliency Coordinator 2, will assist with coordinating partners and stakeholders and serve as the point person for tracking implementation of office initiatives and policies associated with the Resilient 305 Strategy.

To view additional details about each position, including qualifications, and to apply, click here. Applications are due May 5.

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