Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) has recently signed a new legislation that eliminates the need for the state to take climate change into account when formulating energy policies. This move also involves the removal of almost all mentions of climate change in Florida law.
The state Legislature passed a new law in March, which will go into effect in July. This law prohibits the installation of offshore wind turbines in Florida waters and also prevents the construction of offshore wind facilities within one mile of the state’s coastline. It is important to note that there are currently no offshore wind facilities in the state.
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On Wednesday afternoon, DeSantis took to social media platform X to promote the law and two others that he signed. He proudly stated that these laws are aimed at “restoring sanity in our approach to energy and rejecting the agenda of the radical green zealots.”
Environmental leaders strongly criticized the new law, expressing their concern for the state’s environmental challenges and emphasizing the lack of regard shown towards them.
Yoca Arditi-Rocha, executive director at the CLEO Institute, expressed deep concern over the removal of statutory language in Tallahassee that previously acknowledged the risks associated with climate pollution, the significance of energy efficiency, and the undeniable impact of extreme weather events caused by global warming.
According to Arditi-Rocha, Floridians are experiencing the direct consequences of climate change, including rising sea levels, extreme heat, expensive property insurance, frequent flooding, and severe storms. This deliberate disregard for the reality of climate change by the Governor and State Legislature demonstrates that their priorities lie in protecting the profits of the fossil fuel industry, rather than the well-being of the people of Florida.
California has experienced insurance pullouts due to the unpredictable wildfire seasons, and it has also alarmed insurers with a mixture of lawsuits and a high incidence of fraud.
During his 2024 presidential campaign, DeSantis expressed his disapproval of the Biden administration’s environmental policies by stating, “I’m ripping it up and throwing it in the trash can where it belongs.” Throughout his political career, DeSantis has often clashed with environmental advocates, engaging in verbal disputes with them.
Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley frequently criticized Florida Governor DeSantis during their primary race, specifically targeting his stances on certain issues. One of these issues involved DeSantis signing a law earlier this year that prohibits localities in Florida from implementing their own heat protections for outdoor workers.
