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The
East-Central Florida Climate Change Task Force envisions
a Florida recognized as the “Silicon Valley” of Climate
Change Innovation.
Given the substantial and immediate
risks triggered by sea-level rise, Florida must respond
more rapidly to global climate change. The Task Force
sees this as an opportunity to initiate private and
public investment that promotes growth of Space Coast
“green businesses” and a skilled workforce striving
to meet these new challenges.
This investment will ultimately
generate innovative products (technology, policy, skilled
labor) exportable to others grappling with Global Climate
Change.
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Goal/Objectives
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Sea-Level
Rise
Space Coast Climate Change Initiative
Prepared by: East-Central Florida Climate
Change Task Force and RWParkinson Consulting, Inc.
June 24, 2008
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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:
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Accelerated sea-level rise
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Saltwater intrusion into coastal aquifers
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Expanded flood damage to coastal properties and infrastructure
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Accelerated beach erosion
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Enhanced economic loss from more frequent and stronger hurricanes
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Regional water supply shortfalls
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Increase in the number, duration, and intensity of urban heat waves
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Altered distribution of infectious diseases and human exposure to illness
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Increased risk of wildfire
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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 5 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.
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Vulnerability
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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:
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Ranks 1st in miles of vulnerable major roads and railway.
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Ranks 4th in affected population.
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Ranks 5th in total land area submerged.
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Ranks 8th in the number of vulnerable housing units.
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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.
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Why We Can't Wait
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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
— a state policy framework for
adaptation to 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.
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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.
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Miami-Dade Climate Change Advisory Force, 2008
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Second report and initial recommendations. April 2008.
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Mulkey, S. 2007.
Climate change and land use in Florida independencies and opportunities.
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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.
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Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, 2005
- Local government review and approval of sea-level rise maps.
December 5, 2005.
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The Space Coast Climate Change Initiative (SCCCI) was established in 2007 to facilitate local government implementation of adaptive management plans to address global climate change. As an initial objective, the SCCCI is focused on sea-level rise, now forecast to exceed 4 feet by the end of this century. With this goal in mind, the following objectives are being pursued: |
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Our Goal
& Objectives |
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The Space Coast Climate
Change Initiative represents a diverse group of local stakeholders
who believe local governments should implement plans, policies,
and/or programs to address global climate change. With this
goal in mind, the following objectives are being pursued: |
Objective
No. 1 |
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Convince local governments
to identify (a) climate change issues relevant to their
constituency and (b) specific recommendations on how best
to proceed. |
Objective
No. 2 |
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Ensure local governments
comply with the specific recommendations formulated to address
climate change. |
Objective
No. 3 |
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Ensure the plans, policies,
and/or programs implemented by local governments to address
local climate change issues are periodically reviewed and
updated to reflect available information. |
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Climate Change Initiative. All Rights Reserved.
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