The federal government should do more to help local governments prepare for climate change, according to a report released Thursday.
released a Roadmap to Support Local Climate Resilience identifying eight ways the federal government can help local resiliency efforts. It stems from discussions at the 2015 nonpartisan Rising Tides Summit, which brought together 36 federal and local officials, including Coral Gables Mayor Jim Cason, the then Pinecrest mayor Cindy Lerner and commissioners from the city of Hollywood, and Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Cason spoke with reporters Wednesday on a call about the report's recommendations. He pointed out that it has been more than a decade since Coral Gables has been hit by a hurricane, and the federal government hasn't done much to help with resiliency planning for future storms or sea level rise.
"The federal government will jump in when you've been slammed," he said, "but no money comes your way to prepare."
The report addresses that concern: one of the eight recommendations is that federal officials increase incentives for pre-disaster resilience. Other advice include promoting nature-based resiliency initiatives, expanding public-private resiliency partnerships, and prioritizing support for vulnerable communities like small towns and low-income areas.
You can read the full report, including the list of eight policy recommendations, here:
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