Ron DeSantis is continuing his ideological rampage, despite his embarrassing showing in the presidential race. The goofy governor signed a new law this week which removes the phrase "climate change" from all Florida laws, and also bans power-generating wind turbines offshore or near the coast while reducing regulation on gas pipelines.
The move ignores the threat of climate change in Florida, which is the the hottest state in the mainland U.S. The so-called "Sunshine State" experienced a record-breaking heat wave last summer as temperatures in its southern waters briefly topped 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8C).
"Climate change is an indisputable fact, not a topic open for debate," said Frederica Wilson, a member of Florida's congressional delegation. "The dire consequences of the climate crisis are evident every day in Florida, and attempts to undermine efforts to combat this existential threat are utterly reckless and irresponsible."
Of the state's 19.6 million people, 15 million live in coastal areas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) assessed the 2023 heat wave's impact at multiple locations along its 255-mile barrier reef -- home to sea turtles, stingrays, sharks, dolphins and many species of fish. They found less than 22 percent of approximately 1,500 staghorn coral -- a species that is listed as a candidate for endangered species protection -- remained alive.
Temperatures have also been surging to hot levels even by central and South Florida standards. Last week Fort Lauderdale set an all-time May high-temperature record of 98 degrees. Fueling the culture wars isn't going to protect Floridians from the harsh realities of climate change, I'm afraid.
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