Julie Mitchell Environmental Program Supervisor

Sustainability & Climate SectionDept. of Environmental Resources Mgmt.

Presentation to South East Florida Scrub Ecosystem

Working Group

April 30, 2015

BUILDING CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA

General Climate Science Threats to South Florida Building ResilienceSoutheast Florida Regional Climate CompactRegional Tools

Palm Beach CountyDeveloping a Climate Action Strategy Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area

Additional Resources

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

CLIMATE SCIENCE:GREENHOUSE EFFECT

CLIMATE SCIENCE:SEA-LEVEL RISE

Thermal Expansion

Land-based Ice(Greenland, Antarctica)

Terrestrial Water Input

Vertical Land Movement

CLIMATE SCIENCE:SALTWATER INTRUSION

Inland migration of freshwater-saltwater interface

2009

EXTREME WEATHER

AND RISING SEAS:

THREATS TO SOUTH FLORIDA

Property & Infrastructure Water Supplies

Health Natural Systems

..50-year

7-County Prosperity

Plan

2 Regional Planning Councils

4 Counties

Regional Climate Action Plan

Municipality

• Sustainability Plan• Capital Improvement Plan• Comprehensive Plan• Building Code

County• Comprehensive Plan• Land Use Plan• Local Mitigation Strategy

BUILDING CLIMATE

RESILIENCEAT EVERY

LEVEL

Shared recognition of regional vulnerabilities and challenges: Low-lying coastal communities Environment and economy

shaped by water Common airshed, watershed,

climate and natural resources Regional transportation system Concurrent, but uncoordinated,

ef forts

GENESIS OF THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDAREGIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE COMPACT

COMPACT COMMITMENTS

Policy Collaboration

Regional Tools

Regional Climate Action Plan

Annual Summit

County representatives: two from each County

Municipal representatives: one from each County

Non-voting representativesFacilitatorRegional agenciesEnvironmental

organization

COMPACT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURESTEERING COMMITTEE

Staff Steering

Committee

Policy

Summit Planning

Ecosystem Indicator

Shoreline Resilience

Greenhouse Gas

Sea-level Rise

Communication

COMPACT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTUREWORKING GROUPS

County Administrators

& Staff

COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS

And many, many more…

http://www.ufl.edu/�

REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BASELINE INVENTORY

Table 1: Regional Emissions by County (MMTCO2e)Sector 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Broward 22,655,421 22,657,880 21,921,832 21,216,712 20,810,719

Miami-Dade 28,715,847 29,058,677 27,832,307 27,057,988 26,859,326

Monroe 1,504,047 1,532,500 1,465,634 1,408,288 1,417,206

Palm Beach 16,588,536 16,658,369 15,920,070 15,785,752 15,675,174

Regional Sources 254,537 250,984 237,691 222,113 155,359

Totals 69,718,390 70,158,412 67,377,537 65,690,854 64,917,785

• 2005-2009• Included only

community sector, not government operations

UNIFIED SEA-LEVEL RISE PROJECTION

-10

-5

0

1914 1936 1959 1981 2003SLR

in In

ches

Regional Maps 1, 2 and 3 ft scenarios

Preliminary AssessmentWater infrastructure Bridges and roads Schools and hospitals

ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY TO SEA-LEVEL RISE

Juno Dunes Natural Area

ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY TO SEA-LEVEL RISE

Taxable Value of Property

Monroe Broward Palm Beach1 foot $2,763,294,786 $403,069,831 $396,618,089

2 foot $8,388,138,219 $1,751,104,870 $1,251,877,561

3 foot $15,087,755,147 $6,900,509,868 $3,559,471,158

REGIONAL CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

• Completed October 2012 • Product of 3-year planning

and public process • Reflects contributions of

135+ work group members • Details 110 mitigation &

adaptation strategies across 7 planning areas

• Companion Implementation Guide and subsequent workshops

CLIMATE ACTION STRATEGIES

Seven focal areas:• Sustainable Communities &

Transportation Planning• Water Supply, Management,

and Infrastructure• Natural Systems• Agriculture• Energy and Fuel• Risk Reduction and Emergency

Management• Outreach and Public Policy

NATURAL SYSTEM STRATEGIES

NS-1: Develop a vital signs status and trends monitoring program for biological communities. Key parameters may include: rate of sea-level rise; saltwater intrusion boundary and monitoring wells; landscape-level vegetation patterns; and occurrence and range of invasive exotic plants and

animal species.

GOAL: Implement monitoring, management, & conservation programs designed to protect natural systems and improve their capacity for climate adaptation.

NATURAL SYSTEM STRATEGIES

Support regional fire management efforts. (NS-3) Quantify monetary values of mitigation and

adaptation provided by natural systems. (NS-4) Maintain/restore multiple and large-scale

connectivity. (NS-5) Implement regional invasive exotic species

prevention and control efforts. (NS-6) Advocate for funding for applied monitoring and

climate-related science. (NS-10) Compile information on rare plant species and

develop adaptation plans. (NS-13)

RESOURCESOUTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE COMPACT

www.southeastfloridaclimatecompact.org

http://www.southeastfloridaclimatecompact.org/�

• ERM Sustainability & Climate Section

• Regional Climate Action Plan

• Amendment to Comprehensive Plan

• Climate Website• County-wide Climate

Change & Sustainability Coordinator

PALM BEACH COUNTY RESPONDS TO CLIMATE CHANGE

www.pbcgov.com/climate

http://www.pbcgov.org/climate�

120-acre site at the confluence of the Loxahatchee River and Indian River Lagoon, ¼ mi from the ocean

12,000+ yrs of environmental data

8,000+ yrs of archaeological data

4 natural habitats 25 special status species Public use features,

including trails and observation platform

DEVELOPING A CLIMATE STRATEGY FOR JUPITER INLET LIGHTHOUSE OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA

DEVELOPING A CLIMATE STRATEGY FOR JUPITER INLET LIGHTHOUSE OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA

1. Determine scope of assessment Consider analyzing habitat types and a subset of species Decide on appropriate timeframe and spatial scale Identify stakeholders and potential partners

2. Collect relevant climate and ecological data Take advantage of existing data Reach out to internal and external experts

3. Describe vulnerability Consider not only what is vulnerable, but why and how Highlight opportunities to increase adaptive capacity

4. Outline adaptation priorities and strategies Continue to involve stakeholders and partners Use results to build consensus on strategies

ASSESSING VULNERABILITY TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Questions to consider during vulnerability assessment: Which expected climate impacts will be more or

least significant? Which species, habitats or resources are most

vulnerable? Which are less vulnerable, or are likely to benefit

from change? Which impacts can be managed by increasing

adaptive capacity? What species might move into the area under future

climate scenarios?

DEVELOPING A CLIMATE STRATEGY

https://floridaclimateinstitute.org

RESOURCEFLORIDA CLIMATE INSTITUTE

https://floridaclimateinstitute.org/�

RESOURCEU.S. CLIMATE RESILIENCE TOOLKIT

http://toolkit.climate.gov/tools

http://toolkit.climate.gov/tools�

Roll up your pants legs and download a weather app.Rising seas and extreme weather are of highest

concern in South Florida. Start planning now. It’s never too early and it

costs next to nothing. Incorporate climate change considerations into

existing management plans, or in planning for restoration activities.

Don’t recreate the wheel, unless you have to!There are lots of resources and tools available to you.

TAKE HOME MESSAGES…

QUESTIONS?

Julie Mitchell, Environmental Program SupervisorResources Protection, Sustainability & Climate Section

Department of Environmental Resources Mgmt.(561) 233-2437; jmitchell@pbcgov.org

Building �Climate Resilience in Southeast FloridaPresentation overviewClimate science:�greenhouse EffectClimate science:�sea-level riseClimate science:�saltwater intrusionExtreme weather and rising seas: threats to south floridaBuilding CLIMATE resilience�at every levelGenesis of the southeast florida regional climate change compactCompact commitmentsCompact organizational structure�steering committeeCompact organizational structure�working groupsCollaborative partnersRegional greenhouse gas emissions baseline inventoryUnified sea-level rise projectionAnalysis of vulnerability to sea-level riseAnalysis of vulnerability to sea-level riseRegional Climate Action Plan CLIMATE Action StrategiesNatural system strategiesNatural system strategiesResource� Southeast Florida regional climate change compactPalm beach county �responds to climate changeDeveloping a Climate Strategy for �jupiter inlet lighthouse outstanding natural areaDeveloping a Climate Strategy for �jupiter inlet lighthouse outstanding natural areaAssessing vulnerability �to climate changeDeveloping a Climate StrategyResource�Florida Climate INstituteResource�U.s. Climate Resilience ToolkitTake home messageS…Questions?