patrickbdevaney/mia9 · Datasets at Hugging Face

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Real Estate
Cooperative Funding
Agriculture
AVATAR
Science and Information/Data
Real-Time Data
Water Levels
Scientific Publications & SFER
DBHYDRO
Weather
Operational Planning
Environmental Monitoring
Modeling
News and Events
News Releases
Meeting Agendas & Minutes
Calendar
Photo and Video Resources
South Florida Water Management District
Contact Information
3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406

561-686-8800

800-432-2045 (Florida Only)

ASK US
Privacy Policy
Disclaimer
Accessibility
Contact Us
Locations
Careers


C m C
mm y T b
Miami-Dade County and Climate Change:
What every South Floridian needs to know!
Climate Change and the Environment
Why should you care about climate change?
The well-being and sustainability of any community is dependent on
a vibrant economy, a healthy environment, and an equitable and
supportive community fabric. These three facets of sustainable communities (our natural, human and economic capital) are interdependent. If any one element is out of balance, the other two suffer.
To ensure a healthy and prosperous future for ourselves, our children,
and fellow residents, we must be good stewards of all three.
Climate change will cause the world’s environments to change and
will present many challenges and some opportunities to our human,
natural and economic systems. We will all experience climate
change in one way or another. We must work together to address
and prepare for all aspects of climate change to ensure that our
communities continue to prosper and support future generations to
come.
What is Climate Change?
“Global Climate Change” refers to a changing of the earth’s environment as we know it today due to the scientifically documented
warming of the earth. Increasing levels of greenhouse gas emissions
are causing this warming.
Atmospheric “greenhouse gases” occur naturally in the earth’s
atmosphere. These gases capture a portion of the sunlight that
reaches the earth to warm the planet and support life. Greenhouse
gases are also produced by the human use of fossil fuels such as
coal, oil, and
natural gas to
run our cars, cool and power our homes, schools, and businesses, and in the production
and transportation of the goods and services that support our economy.
Based on historic and current greenhouse gas emissions levels, scientific research by the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a team of climate science experts from all
over the world, predicts a worldwide increase in global temperature of 3.1 to 7.2 degrees
Fahrenheit (1.8 to 4.0 degrees Celsius) by the end of the century. It may not sound like a
lot, but a few degrees increase in overall global temperature will have dramatic impact
not only on Miami-Dade County, but the world, changing our natural environment and
the way of life we have come to know. Sea level rise, increasing droughts and floods,
warmer temperatures in some places, colder temperatures in others, changing habitats
and impacts to the plants and animals that currently inhabit them, are a few of the
changes we may begin to experience.
The good news is that the magnitude of the
changes we will experience in the coming
years can be made less severe. The stabilization and reduction of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is possible through a comprehensive approach and partnership of residents, the private sector, and government to become more energy efficient, to become less wasteful of our resources,
and to adopt “greener” and “smart” development practices. Small changes by Miami-Dade’s 2.4
million residents can add up to big reductions in greenhouse gas emissions! But we must act now.
Scientists predict that we have a decade or so to make the necessary changes that will lead to a
meaningful decrease in the rate of climate warming.
How is Climate Change likely to impact Miami-Dade County’s Environmental Resources?
Miami-Dade County has unique environmental treasures susceptible to climate change. The
County is home to Biscayne Bay and Everglades National Park lands that provide habitat for many
special plants and animals; coastal mangrove forests; rich coastal marshes; colorful coral reefs and
rare habitats.
Scientists tell us that likely impacts to Miami-Dade County’s natural resources and environment
include:
Water Quality Degradation and Increased Pollution. Increases in the earth’s surface temperature
are expected to lead to an increase in heavy rain events. Greater stormwater run-off will wash higher concentrations of sediment, and pollutants from the ground’s surface into adjacent water bodies such as Biscayne Bay, the Miami River,
Barnes Sound and Florida Bay. Heavy rain events will also increase the likelihood of sewer overflow. Untreated stormwater runoff will adversely impact not only the quality of these waters but also the plants and animals that need clean water to live.
Miami-Dade County’s coastal estuaries (areas where saltwater meets freshwater)
play an important role in South Florida’s ecosystem by serving as nursery areas for
marine fish and other sea life. Additional fresh water inflows into these estuaries will
change the salinity, nutrient and sediment concentrations of these waters, affecting their ability to support life.
Coral Reef Mortality. Southeast Florida’s coral reefs and the marine life that
depend on them are already at risk. Climate change will increase their vulnerability through rises in sea temperature and ocean acidification. Coral bleaching
events are projected to increase and cause coral reef die-off, unless reefs can

Real Estate

Cooperative Funding

Agriculture

AVATAR

Science and Information/Data

Real-Time Data

Water Levels

Scientific Publications & SFER

DBHYDRO

Weather

Operational Planning

Environmental Monitoring

Modeling

News and Events

News Releases

Meeting Agendas & Minutes

Calendar

Photo and Video Resources

South Florida Water Management District

Contact Information

3301 Gun Club Road

West Palm Beach, FL 33406

561-686-8800

800-432-2045 (Florida Only)

ASK US

Privacy Policy

Disclaimer

Accessibility

Contact Us

Locations

Careers

C m C

mm y T b

Miami-Dade County and Climate Change:

What every South Floridian needs to know!

Climate Change and the Environment

Why should you care about climate change?

The well-being and sustainability of any community is dependent on

a vibrant economy, a healthy environment, and an equitable and

supportive community fabric. These three facets of sustainable communities (our natural, human and economic capital) are interdependent. If any one element is out of balance, the other two suffer.

To ensure a healthy and prosperous future for ourselves, our children,

and fellow residents, we must be good stewards of all three.

Climate change will cause the world’s environments to change and

will present many challenges and some opportunities to our human,

natural and economic systems. We will all experience climate

change in one way or another. We must work together to address

and prepare for all aspects of climate change to ensure that our

communities continue to prosper and support future generations to

come.

What is Climate Change?

“Global Climate Change” refers to a changing of the earth’s environment as we know it today due to the scientifically documented

warming of the earth. Increasing levels of greenhouse gas emissions

are causing this warming.

Atmospheric “greenhouse gases” occur naturally in the earth’s

atmosphere. These gases capture a portion of the sunlight that

reaches the earth to warm the planet and support life. Greenhouse

gases are also produced by the human use of fossil fuels such as

coal, oil, and

natural gas to

run our cars, cool and power our homes, schools, and businesses, and in the production

and transportation of the goods and services that support our economy.

Based on historic and current greenhouse gas emissions levels, scientific research by the

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a team of climate science experts from all

over the world, predicts a worldwide increase in global temperature of 3.1 to 7.2 degrees

Fahrenheit (1.8 to 4.0 degrees Celsius) by the end of the century. It may not sound like a

lot, but a few degrees increase in overall global temperature will have dramatic impact

not only on Miami-Dade County, but the world, changing our natural environment and

the way of life we have come to know. Sea level rise, increasing droughts and floods,

warmer temperatures in some places, colder temperatures in others, changing habitats

and impacts to the plants and animals that currently inhabit them, are a few of the

changes we may begin to experience.

The good news is that the magnitude of the

changes we will experience in the coming

years can be made less severe. The stabilization and reduction of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is possible through a comprehensive approach and partnership of residents, the private sector, and government to become more energy efficient, to become less wasteful of our resources,

and to adopt “greener” and “smart” development practices. Small changes by Miami-Dade’s 2.4

million residents can add up to big reductions in greenhouse gas emissions! But we must act now.

Scientists predict that we have a decade or so to make the necessary changes that will lead to a

meaningful decrease in the rate of climate warming.

How is Climate Change likely to impact Miami-Dade County’s Environmental Resources?

Miami-Dade County has unique environmental treasures susceptible to climate change. The

County is home to Biscayne Bay and Everglades National Park lands that provide habitat for many

special plants and animals; coastal mangrove forests; rich coastal marshes; colorful coral reefs and

rare habitats.

Scientists tell us that likely impacts to Miami-Dade County’s natural resources and environment

include:

Water Quality Degradation and Increased Pollution. Increases in the earth’s surface temperature

are expected to lead to an increase in heavy rain events. Greater stormwater run-off will wash higher concentrations of sediment, and pollutants from the ground’s surface into adjacent water bodies such as Biscayne Bay, the Miami River,

Barnes Sound and Florida Bay. Heavy rain events will also increase the likelihood of sewer overflow. Untreated stormwater runoff will adversely impact not only the quality of these waters but also the plants and animals that need clean water to live.

Miami-Dade County’s coastal estuaries (areas where saltwater meets freshwater)

play an important role in South Florida’s ecosystem by serving as nursery areas for

marine fish and other sea life. Additional fresh water inflows into these estuaries will

change the salinity, nutrient and sediment concentrations of these waters, affecting their ability to support life.

Coral Reef Mortality. Southeast Florida’s coral reefs and the marine life that

depend on them are already at risk. Climate change will increase their vulnerability through rises in sea temperature and ocean acidification. Coral bleaching

events are projected to increase and cause coral reef die-off, unless reefs can