Background |
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During the 21st century climate
change will present significant challenges to Florida residents
by influencing nearly every aspect of our lives and the natural
systems around us. The most obvious challenge to coastal communities
will initially be increasing rates of sea-level rise and catastrophic
storm landfall. The SCCI seeks to help the community prepare
for these challenges through partnerships, science, and education.
Global climate change will
forever change the physical, economic, environmental and social
fabric of Florida communities. Specific elements of global
climate change destined to change the way we currently live
include: |
| • |
Accelerated
sea-level rise |
| • |
Saltwater
intrusion into coastal aquifers |
| • |
Expanded
flood damage to coastal properties and infrastructure |
| • |
Accelerated
beach erosion |
| • |
Enhanced
economic loss from more frequent and stronger hurricanes |
| • |
Regional
water supply shortfalls |
| • |
Increase
in the number, duration, and intensity of urban heat waves |
| • |
Altered
distribution of infectious diseases and human exposure to illness |
| • |
Increased
risk of wildfire |
| • |
Increased
demand for electric power |
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Within the state of Florida,
average surface temperatures are predicted to increase by
about 10° F while net precipitation will likely decrease.
Sea-level is projected to rise by as much as 3 feet by 2100.
The State’s population is expected to increase by 50% over
the next 25 years, gobbling up an additional 7 million acres
of undeveloped land by 2070. Two to three million acres of
this development will take place on lands which currently
recharge our aquifers. |
Vulnerability |
The Space Coast is especially
vulnerable to sea-level rise given the extensive distribution
of low-lying areas along the mainland coast, throughout
Merritt Island, and within the barrier Island system. Stanton
and Ackerman (2007) quantified “vulnerability” by modeling
inundation effects along the Florida coastline and determined
Brevard County: |
| 1. |
Ranks
1st in miles of vulnerable major roads and railway. |
| 2. |
Ranks
4th in affected population. |
| 3. |
Ranks
5th in total land area submerged. |
| 4. |
Ranks
8th in the number of vulnerable housing units. |
Other coastal counties will
also be subject to accelerated beach erosion, coastal flooding,
and salt water intrusion. While a substantial number of cities
and states in the US are formulating climate action plans,
most of these are focused almost entirely on mitigating greenhouse
gas emissions. Only a few Florida state and local government
agencies have begun to plan for the inevitable effects of
sea-level rise by choosing between the options of protection,
retreat, or accommodation (c.f., Miami-Dade Climate Change
Advisory Task Force 2008; Treasure Coast Regional Planning
Council 2005).
The SCCCI mission is to facilitate the exchange of ideas
between experts, policy-makers, and the general public in
the pursuit of strategies to mitigate and adapt to the local
consequences of sea-level rise.
|
Why
We Can't Wait |
While there is still uncertainty regarding
the details of this rise, comprehensive plans and associated
development decisions are being made today which commit
public and private investment in real estate and associated
infrastructure. With a design life of 30 yrs to 100 yrs,
many of these investments are on a collision course with
rising sea-level and the resulting impacts will be significant.
The effect on the area’s marine, estuarine, and terrestrial
ecosystems, all of which are vital to the local economy,
has not been fully quantified but will surely be large.
Even if greenhouse gas emissions are frozen today, global
climate change will impact our quality of life for decades
yet to come. As a quick read of any major newspaper or website
will reveal, many coastal communities are already being
subjected to enhanced flooding, accelerated coastal erosion,
more frequent and longer droughts, and intense hurricanes.
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Bibliography |
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Many of the concepts
and text in the following citations were adapted for use in
this Mission Statement. |
|
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Bollman, N., 2007. Florida’s
resilient coasts discussion draft |
|
— a state policy framework
for adaptationto climate change. Unpublished report prepared
by the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions, Florida
Atlantic University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. |
|
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Center
for Science in the Earth System, Joint Institute for |
|
the Study of the Atmosphere
and Ocean,University of Washington, and King County Washington,
2007. Preparing for climate change: a guidebook for local,
regional, and state governments. |
|
Deyle,
R.E., Bailey, K.C., and Matheny, A., 2008 |
|
Adaptive response planning
to sealevel rise in Florida and implications for comprehensive
and public-faculties planning. Unpublished report prepared
by the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Florida
State University. |
| |
Miami-Dade
Climate Change Advisory Force, 2008 |
Second report and initial recommendations.
Report dated April 2008.
|
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Mulkey,
S. 2007. Climate change and land use in Florida: |
independencies and opportunities. An
unpublished report prepared for the Century Commission for
a Sustainable Florida.
|
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Stanton,
E.A., and Ackerman, F., 2007. Florida climate |
|
change — the cost
of inaction. Tufts University. |
| |
Treasure
Coast Regional Planning Council, 2005. Local |
government review and approval of sea-level
rise maps. Report dated December 5, 2005.
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