The environment is a big, complex issue in South Florida. Close to the Miami metropolitan area, the Everglades are a natural region of tropical wetlands in the southern portion of the state of Florida. Its ecosystem relies on a supply of fresh water flowing south, but urban development in the area has hindered that flow. Closer to the coast, places like Miami Beach are dealing with the threat of rising seas.
Although ensure climate resilience is a national, regional and local issue, local governments in South Florida are at the front-line of ensuring climate resilience. Local governments in South Florida are coming up with ways to deal with important climate-related environment issues, including flood control.
For instance, engineers in Miami Dade County are raising roads to let fresh water flow south into the Everglades. In similar efforts to improve climate resilience, the City of Miami Beach is working to conteract an increase in flooding, which the city attributes to sea level rise and climate change.
Jeremy Hobson reports on the climate resilience efforts in South Florida for the Here & Now radio show. The audio report includes interviews with Jim Murley, the chief resilience officer for Miami Dade County and Susy Torriente, the assistant city manager and chief resiliency officer for Miami Beach.
Listen to the complete report:
http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2016/03/15/florida-everglades-sea-level-rise
