By Trimmel Gomes, Florida News Connection
Florida Climate Week is now underway. It launched Monday in Jacksonville with a call for community-wide action on sustainability and resilience.
Donna Deegan, mayor of Jacksonville, joined city sustainability staff and environmental partners to proclaim the week, emphasizing the city’s role in preparing for climate effects such as flooding, through local initiatives.
“I am proud to say Jacksonville is not just participating, we are leading,” Deegan underscored. “We are leading thanks to initiatives like the Resilient Jacksonville Strategy, the Regional Climate Action Plan and other bold steps, all to build a city that is prepared for the future.”
The statewide initiative is led by the VoLo Foundation, which focuses on data-driven solutions for the environment. Events are being held across Florida throughout the week, including coastal cleanups in Tampa, resilience workshops in Miami and educational seminars in Orlando.
Trey Ford, strategic partnerships and programming coordinator for the environmental group St. Johns Riverkeeper, highlighted the critical role of partnership between cities and environmental organizations in protecting Florida’s waterways.
“We’re not an enforcement agency. We are the watchdogs,” Ford emphasized. “We make sure that we compel people to do right by the river, which is one of the things that we get to enjoy in Jacksonville.”
Events throughout the week include a boat tour on the Ribault River and an art gallery pop-up.
Ashantae Green, sustainability manager for the city of Jacksonville, stressed the importance of education in addressing climate challenges.
“This climate week is more than just a proclamation,” Green noted. “It’s about amplifying the change we can make together.”
Green highlighted creative events such as the Minecraft Sustainable Build Challenge, which engages younger residents in sustainability planning.
Florida News Connection is a bureau of the Public News Service. Banner photo: A bridge carries traffic over the Intracoastal Waterway in Jacksonville (iStock image).
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