Florida’s Climate Crisis: When the Sunshine State Becomes the Denial State
Florida is on the front lines of climate change. Rising seas threaten our coasts, stronger hurricanes devastate our communities, and record heat makes summers increasingly unbearable. Yet while the water literally rises around us, Florida’s government has turned climate action into a political punching bag—banning the term “climate change” from official documents, rolling back environmental protections, and prioritizing developer profits over the future habitability of our state.
The Reality We’re Living
The science isn’t up for debate anymore—not that it ever really was. Florida is experiencing the impacts of climate change right now:
Sea Level Rise: Miami Beach floods during high tide. Coastal properties face “sunny day flooding” where seawater bubbles up through storm drains even when the weather is perfect. Scientists project that by 2100, much of South Florida could be underwater. Not “might be.” Could be.
Extreme Weather: Hurricanes are intensifying. Hurricane Ian in 2022 caused catastrophic damage to Southwest Florida, killing over 150 people and causing $113 billion in damages. Hurricane Milton in 2024 demonstrated once again that “once-in-a-generation” storms are now happening every few years.
Heat Crisis: Florida summers are becoming dangerously hot. Record-breaking temperatures strain our power grid, threaten outdoor workers, and make daily life increasingly difficult. The elderly, children, and those without adequate air conditioning face serious health risks.
Ecosystem Collapse: Our coral reefs are bleaching and dying. Red tide blooms devastate marine life. The Everglades—our state’s ecological heart—faces existential threats from saltwater intrusion and altered water flow.
Insurance Crisis: Property insurance companies are fleeing Florida because climate-related disasters have made the state too risky to insure. Homeowners face skyrocketing premiums or can’t get coverage at all.
The Government’s Response: Denial and Deregulation
So how has Florida’s leadership responded to these mounting crises? By pretending they don’t exist and attacking anyone who says otherwise.
Banning the Words: Under the DeSantis administration, the terms “climate change” and “global warming” were reportedly scrubbed from official state documents. Because apparently if you don’t say the words, the problem goes away—like a toddler covering their eyes and declaring themselves invisible.
Gutting Environmental Protections: Rather than strengthening our defenses against climate impacts, the state has weakened environmental regulations, fast-tracked development in vulnerable coastal areas, and prioritized short-term economic gains over long-term survival.
Silencing Scientists: State employees have faced pressure not to discuss climate change publicly. Scientists and researchers who dare to mention the reality of our situation risk their jobs or funding.
Attacking Renewable Energy: While other states race to develop clean energy infrastructure, Florida has dragged its feet on solar despite being the “Sunshine State.” The fossil fuel industry maintains powerful influence over state policy, and meaningful climate action gets blocked by industry-friendly politicians.
The Hypocrisy is Stunning
Here’s what makes this particularly infuriating: Florida’s government leaders aren’t stupid. They know climate change is real. They’re just betting that they can profit off development and corporate interests now and leave future generations to deal with the consequences.
Meanwhile, they’ve created a bizarre alternate reality where mentioning climate change is somehow radical left-wing ideology rather than basic scientific fact. As if hurricanes check your voter registration before deciding which houses to destroy.
What Floridians Deserve
We deserve a government that:
- Acknowledges reality and bases policy on science, not political convenience
- Invests in climate resilience infrastructure like seawalls, improved drainage systems, and elevated roads
- Protects vulnerable communities who will bear the brunt of climate impacts
- Transitions to clean energy and creates jobs in renewable energy sectors
- Preserves our natural ecosystems that provide crucial storm protection and ecological value
- Plans for the future instead of pretending we can develop our way out of rising seas
- Tells the truth to residents about the real risks they face
The Cost of Inaction
Every year we delay serious climate action, the problem gets exponentially worse and more expensive to address. We’re already past the point of preventing climate change—now we’re in damage control mode. But damage control still requires actually controlling the damage, not sticking our heads in the sand (which, by the way, will soon be underwater).
The cruel irony is that Florida has everything we need to be a leader in climate solutions—abundant sunshine for solar energy, a coastal economy that depends on healthy ecosystems, and innovative research institutions. What we lack is political leadership with the courage to prioritize the future over fossil fuel donations.
What You Can Do
Vote: Support candidates who take climate change seriously and will fight for science-based policy. Vote out politicians who deny reality or prioritize developer interests over public safety.
Speak Up: Contact your representatives. Attend local government meetings. Demand climate action plans for your community.
Prepare Your Home: Even without government action, you can take steps to protect your property—elevate appliances, improve drainage, consider flood insurance (if you can still get it).
Support Climate Organizations: Groups like the Florida Climate Center, Everglades Foundation, and local environmental organizations are fighting for our future.
Educate Others: Share facts about climate impacts on Florida. Counter the denial and misinformation that keeps us stuck.
The Bottom Line
Florida is a canary in the coal mine for climate change. What happens here will eventually happen to coastal communities worldwide. We can either face this challenge with the seriousness it demands, or we can keep pretending everything is fine while the water rises around us.
Our government has chosen denial. But Floridians don’t have to.
The Sunshine State deserves better than politicians who would rather protect their campaign donors than our coastline. We deserve leaders who understand that you can’t legislate away rising seas or ban your way out of a climate crisis.
Climate change doesn’t care about your political party. It doesn’t respect state lines or property rights. It’s coming regardless of whether Florida’s government acknowledges it.
The only question is: will we prepare for it, or will we keep our heads in the sand until the sand itself is gone?
Want to learn more? Check out these resources:
- Florida Climate Center
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Sea Level Rise Viewer
- Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact
What are your experiences with climate impacts in Florida? Share your stories in the comments or join the conversation on our forums.