By Bella Kubach, Citizens’ Climate Lobby
At his inauguration, President Donald Trump called for “a revolution of common sense.” Yet his efforts in the past few weeks to roll back many environmental and climate change initiatives in favor of fossil fuel production should give pause.
Within days of taking office, Trump signed an executive order pausing the disbursement of funds from the Inflation Reduction Act, despite the fact that red states have largely benefited from the legislation’s clean energy incentives. Since then, the Trump-Vance administration has scaled back or wholly eliminated a multitude of federal climate mitigation and adaptation measures and it’s hard to believe that Florida will escape unscathed.
You don’t have to be a scientist to notice how our altering global climate is causing storms to grow more destructive, putting our communities and our economy at increasing risk of harm.
The rapid intensification of hurricanes Helene and Milton, which battered the Sunshine State within days of each other last fall, were fueled by extremely warm water off the coast of Florida, which reached an alarming 85 degrees Fahrenheit. And when scientists from the U.S., the United Kingdom, Sweden and the Netherlands analyzed the data in different ways, they came to the same conclusion — climate change was a key driver.
According to the Center for Climate and Energy solutions, climate change is worsening hurricane impacts by increasing the intensity and decreasing the speed at which they travel, which increases the odds of catastrophic damage.
The destruction caused to Florida alone by hurricanes Helene and Milton has exceeded $6 billion, according to the Office of Insurance Regulation.
Even before these mega storms, many insurance companies were already fleeing the state or revoking policies that limit coverage and further raise premiums. A study conducted in May 2024 found Florida to have the highest home insurance rates in the entire nation — a 168%, or $3,619, difference from the national average.
When our leaders ignore the fiscal threat of climate change in favor of ramping up fossil fuel production, they fail to address a fear that is very real for many Floridians – that we are always just one hurricane away from crippling property damage and more insurance companies vacating.
Collier, Indian River, Charlotte, Brevard, Polk and Miami-Dade counties all saw dramatic increases in their insurance nonrenewal rates in 2023. Concerningly, Charlotte County saw a 4.71% non-renewal rate in 2023 compared to only 0.33% in 2018.
For many already struggling to afford groceries in an inflated economy, this is unsustainable. Florida saw half a million people leave the state last year, the most the state has ever seen. According to a migration report from the Florida Chamber of Commerce, limited career opportunities for younger workers and rising housing costs were the two largest factors for the exodus.
This mass migration doesn’t just call attention to the effects of climate change on Florida homeowners, it represents a threat to financial stability all across the country.
As wildfires wreak havoc on America’s west coast and hurricanes batter those of us to the east, Americans are left with limited options to find safe, affordable housing.
If we want to lower costs, protect our homes and secure a livable future, Sens. Rick Scott and Ashley Moody must vocalize the need for decisive action on climate change.
Anything less would neglect the president’s campaign promises of tackling a “devastating inflation crisis,” which feels ever urgent for countless Floridians.
Bella Kubach is a communications intern for Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a nonprofit, grassroots climate advocacy organization, and is currently studying for a master of arts in global sustainability at the University of South Florida. She was previously a reporting intern for The Invading Sea. Banner photo: Damage from Hurricane Milton on Manasota Key (iStock image).
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