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

Audubon Florida Climate and Energy News Roundup Today we share news about the need for equitable funding for community carbon removal, ways Florida communities are reducing emissions, how climate change impacts archaeological sites, and more!

Great Egret. Photo: Brenda Stelzer

Why Are Nature-Based Solutions on Climate Being Overlooked? From Yale Environment 360 “There are a ‘growing number of analyses and reviews of the effectiveness of habitats as natural defences,’ writes Siddharth Narayan, now of East Carolina University. Hundreds of local projects to restore ecosystems on coastlines and mountains, in river valleys, forests, and grassy plains, have proved their worth in using restored nature to boost the resilience of millions of people to the ravages of onrushing climate change. Most are cheaper and more effective than any engineering alternatives, with more spinoff benefits for ecosystems and fewer downsides. But the political will and funding that could turn pilot projects for nature-based climate adaptation into policy norms benefitting hundreds of millions more people are still largely absent.” Read the entire article.

Hydrogen-powered Electric Plane Makes First Flight Between Two Commercial Airports From Recharge News “A prototype fuel-cell plane has made the first ever trip between two commercial airports by a hydrogen-powered electric aircraft, according to German technology developer H2FLY. The Stuttgart-based company has announced that its HY4 demonstrator plane flew 124km from Stuttgart to Freidrichshafen airport on 12 April, with the four-seat aircraft then reaching a record high altitude for 7,230ft (2.2km) the following day.” Read the entire article.

Study Finds Local Voluntary Programs are Effective in Promoting Green Energy From Florida State University News “Programs encouraging voluntary solar energy use at the local level are effective in spurring the adoption of solar power, a Florida State University researcher has found… They focused primarily on the SolSmart Program, a VEP that encourages local governments to adopt best practices to promote solar installation. SolSmart’s incentives include national recognition and no-cost assistance to help local governments develop and adopt solar-friendly best practices and achieve gold, silver and bronze designations.” Read the entire article.

Climate Change Will Transform How We Live, but These Tech and Policy Experts See Reason for Optimism From The Conversation “The latest reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change discuss changes ahead, but they also describe how existing solutions can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help people adjust to impacts of climate change that can’t be avoided. The problem is that these solutions aren’t being deployed fast enough. In addition to push-back from industries, people’s fear of change has helped maintain the status quo. To slow climate change and adapt to the damage already underway, the world will have to shift how it generates and uses energy, transports people and goods, designs buildings and grows food. That starts with embracing innovation and change.” Read the entire article.

Regional Resilience Cohort Works Toward Local Solutions From Bay Soundings “How do you solve a problem if you do not know where to start? Many local governments are simply overwhelmed, especially when it comes to a daunting issue like enhancing resilience in the face of climate change. Enter Audubon Florida, Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) and the University of South Florida (USF). They’ve joined with local governments in creating the Tampa Bay Regional Resilience Cohort to conduct inventories on municipal greenhouse gas emissions… The action now being undertaken by the newly formed cohort is an important step in helping reduce emissions and our carbon footprint. Reducing emissions not only makes sense ecologically, but economically too.” Read the entire article.

Climate Change is Affecting Archaeological Sites in Palm Beach County From University of South Florida News “The South Florida Regional Climate Change Compact has developed an action plan to provide coordinated climate action in Southeast Florida. Researchers at Lynn University in Boca Raton conducted a study that found sea-level rise is impacting some areas in Palm Beach County… Lecher and her colleague, April Watson, an archeologist, worked with a team of students from Lynn University to excavate two sites at South Inlet Park in Boca Raton. Their findings revealed that groundwater is submerging the sites in water long before they would be flooded by sea level rise.” Read the entire article.

Funding for Environmental Justice Organizations is Essential for Carbon Removal From Carbon 180 “A study by InDEEP found that in the five year period from 2014 through 2018, a total of $3.7 billion was awarded in the environmental and conservation field, with $3.2 billion going to white-led organizations and $498 million going to BIPOC-led organizations. Inequitable funding opportunities create significant hurdles for EJ organizations working to engage in policy discussions and achieve their justice goals.” 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