A scientist who spoke with Governor Rick Scott about climate change watched election results from the party for losing candidate Charlie Crist. Eckerd College marine science professor David Hastings says when they met in August,Scott didn’t react much to his concerns about rising sea levels.
Hastings says will watch the Republican governor in his second term. Scott told him he was open to fixing some of the problems. And, Hastings says, federal agencies also may force his hand.
“He hasn’t embraced the concept of the science of climate change, so I’m not especially hopeful. On the other hand, he does talk about solutions", Hastings said. "So there’s still an opportunity for him to actually do something. And he’s mandated by the EPA, by the climate action plan to reduce the O2 emissions. So let’s see how he does that.”
Scott talked little of climate change during the campaign, only saying he was not a scientist. That didn't stop the special interest group NextGen Climate Action from spending millions backing Crist.