Trouble viewing this e-mail? Try our web version.

Audubon Florida Climate and Energy News Roundup This week we share news about federal dollars for Florida infrastructure, improving resilience at Florida Army bases, more EV chargers coming to Florida roadways, and more!

Palm trees along a Florida street.

Florida, No. 2 in Nation for Electric Cars, About to Get a Boost to its Charger Network From the Miami Herald “Florida has a lot of electric cars — the second-highest number in the nation — and for drivers on long trips or a stressful hurricane evacuation there is always one big question: Where is the next charging station? That worry may soon ease. The state’s major highways could see potentially 100 new fast chargers thanks to a boost from the federal infrastructure bill the U.S. Department of Energy announced Thursday morning.” Read the entire article.

The Problem with Palm Trees When it Comes to Climate Change From NBC-2 News Ft. Myers “We see them in our neighborhoods. We put them on postcards. We plant them throughout our communities. Palm trees have become an iconic staple in the sunshine state. Dr. Bovard, an assistant professor at Florida Gulf Coast University, said though there is no denying the aesthetic appeal to palm trees, planting alternative trees can help combat climate change…When compared to a palm tree, a pine or oak tree around the same age will have about 30 times the amount of leaf area that’s going to be absorbing carbon from the atmosphere... But ditching palm trees together isn’t the solution.” Read the entire article.

Florida Gets Another $404 Million for Climate Change Prep. It Needs Billions More From the Miami Herald “The most vulnerable state in the nation is finally getting a billion-dollar boost to its plans to protect itself against the rising sea, the tip of the trillion-dollar iceberg of climate change expenses the state faces… It’s the largest amount of money for climate change preparation ever seen in Florida — and the $404 million is all from the federal American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trilliion-dollar COVID-19 relief act championed by the Biden administration.” Read the entire article.

The U.S. Army Has Released its First-ever Climate Strategy. Here’s What That Means. From the Washington Post “The U.S. Army released its first climate strategy this week, an effort to brace the service for a world beset by global-warming-driven conflicts. The plan aims to slash the Army’s emissions in half by 2030; electrify all noncombat vehicles by 2035 and develop electric combat vehicles by 2050; and train a generation of officers on how to prepare for a hotter, more chaotic world. It is part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to address climate change across government agencies, including at the Pentagon.” Read the entire article.

An Arctic Bird Ended Up in Acton. Is Climate Change to Blame? From the Boston Globe “Last month’s Winter Storm Izzy brought chaos to Massachusetts, downing power lines and tree branches, spurring coastal flooding, and leaving thousands in the dark due to power outages. The storm may have been the most disorienting, however, for one small creature: an emaciated Arctic bird found by an Acton couple... Staff at the Tufts Wildlife Clinic nursed the bird back to health; it was released back into the wild on Feb. 2. But its plight is a reminder of the climate threats that birds face.” Read the entire article.

CONNECT WITH US

Audubon Florida 4500 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 350, Miami, FL 33137 (305) 371-6399 | fl.audubon.org © 2024 National Audubon Society, Inc. Unsubscribe