Miami Meteorologists rebukes DeSantis for scrubbing climate change from state law

wing2000 said:

....Desantis must think Floridians are the most unobservant people on earth.

<excerpts>
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill removing most references to climate change in state law, Steve MacLaughlin, a meteorologist for the NBC affiliate in Miami, could not restrain himself.

“As Florida is on fire, underwater and unaffordable, our state government is rolling back climate change legislation and language,” MacLaughlin wrote on X — the prelude to a passionate minute-long video explaining why he felt the measure was unwise.

“The world is looking to Florida to lead in climate change, and our government is saying that climate change is no longer the priority it once was,” MacLaughlin said in his video, which was also posted on his station’s website.

In Miami, the past 10 days have seen four calendar-day records for high temperature and five for heat index, according to University of Miami meteorologist Brian McNoldy.
An analysis by Moody’s found that Florida faces the greatest economic risk from climate change of any U.S. state.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/05/20/florida-climate-change-meteorologist-desantis/

....meanwhile, as the water table rises, states like Florida are at risk of compromised septic tanks...

An estimated 120,000 septic systems remain in Miami-Dade County, their subterranean concrete boxes and drain fields a relic of the area’s feverish growth generations ago. Of those, the county estimated in 2018, about half are at risk of being “periodically compromised” during severe storms or particularly wet years.

Miami, where seas have risen six inches since 2010, offers a high-profile example of a predicament that parts of the southeast Atlantic and Gulf coasts are confronting — and one scientists say will become only more pervasive — as waters continue to rise.

https://wapo.st/44Wv0XJ

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We have treatments for cholera outbreaks now, it’s all good!

wing2000 said:

....Desantis must think Floridians are the most unobservant people on earth.

<excerpts>
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill removing most references to climate change in state law, Steve MacLaughlin, a meteorologist for the NBC affiliate in Miami, could not restrain himself.

“As Florida is on fire, underwater and unaffordable, our state government is rolling back climate change legislation and language,” MacLaughlin wrote on X — the prelude to a passionate minute-long video explaining why he felt the measure was unwise.

“The world is looking to Florida to lead in climate change, and our government is saying that climate change is no longer the priority it once was,” MacLaughlin said in his video, which was also posted on his station’s website.

In Miami, the past 10 days have seen four calendar-day records for high temperature and five for heat index, according to University of Miami meteorologist Brian McNoldy.
An analysis by Moody’s found that Florida faces the greatest economic risk from climate change of any U.S. state.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/05/20/florida-climate-change-meteorologist-desantis/

....meanwhile, as the water table rises, states like Florida are at risk of compromised septic tanks...

An estimated 120,000 septic systems remain in Miami-Dade County, their subterranean concrete boxes and drain fields a relic of the area’s feverish growth generations ago. Of those, the county estimated in 2018, about half are at risk of being “periodically compromised” during severe storms or particularly wet years.

Miami, where seas have risen six inches since 2010, offers a high-profile example of a predicament that parts of the southeast Atlantic and Gulf coasts are confronting — and one scientists say will become only more pervasive — as waters continue to rise.

https://wapo.st/44Wv0XJ

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I got six words to say, after this colon: Glad I don't live in Florida.

Florida is the great un-woke experiment.

“As Florida is on fire, underwater

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I wasn't aware that climate change worked per individual state that way.

and unaffordable

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I think he has Florida mixed up with California.

FL is poised to suffer greatly from human caused climate warming.

Its going to be one of the first states where a home is largely uninsurable. Good to see Ron is on the job!

wing2000 said:

That is your incorrect inference.

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Then why are they mad at him?

Zaha Torte said:

Then can you explain why they are angry at him?

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It appears DeSantis wants to halt any efforts to reduce human caused climate change.

Without any such efforts FL will likely suffer greater harmful effects.

So all this being scrapped?


Florida is already about 74% reliant on natural gas to power electric generation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Opponents of the bill DeSantis signed say it removes the word "climate' in nine different places, moves the state's energy goals away from efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gases blamed for a warming planet.

"This purposeful act of cognitive dissonance is proof that the governor and state Legislature are not acting in the best interests of Floridians, but rather to protect profits for the fossil fuel industry," said Yoca Arditi-Rocha, executive director of the nonprofit Cleo Institute, which advocates for climate change education and engagement.

The legislation also eliminates requirements that government agencies hold conferences and meetings in hotels certified by the state's environmental agency as "green lodging" and that government agencies make fuel efficiency the top priority in buying new vehicles. It also ends a requirement that Florida state agencies look at a list of "climate-friendly" products before making purchases.

Zaha Torte said:

How did he do that?

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He needs to take efforts to reduce heat trapping gasses seriously.

At this point he probably should get really active about promoting nuclear energy for FL to replace gas fired elec generation. But instead hes just telegraphing that the whole thing is a non issue.

Zaha Torte said:

You don't see these people mad at DeSantis for not stopping the sea from rising?

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No.

It's that people think he's an idiot for putting his head in the sand and ignoring the issue.

Stopping the rise won't solely happen because of florida's actions anyways.

But to have a leadership in a state like that, that has chosen to simply ignore the threat of climate change to them, is beyond the pale of stupid.

For the record, there seems to be a tinge of "trolling" going on; it seems to be just strawman after strawman and, what only seems to be a purposeful effort to mischaracterize what others write.

Zaha Torte said:

Natural gas is better than coal - and I do like the idea of nuclear power - but if everything people are saying is correct - will there be space for a nuclear facility in Florida with all the seas rising?

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Have you seen the diagrams of the areas of Florida that are being threatened by flooding because if you did, the last bit of your sentence would be answered.

Zaha Torte said:

If this meteorologist does not believe that DeSantis can control the temperature, rain or seas - then the only other reason he would be acting this way is because he is actually a political propagandist in disguise who is abusing his position and using claims about the climate to scare his viewers into voting for the politicians that he supports by claiming that Governor DeSantis' lack of virtue signaling somehow disqualifies him from being a competent leader.

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You think DeSantis is NOT virtue signalling but this meteorologist is? Well that's silly. I mean, your whole characterization of the situation sounds like it was done a farmer living on the Mongonlian steppe blissfully unaware of American politics.

But that said FINALLY, you say something that is not disningenuous and clearly lays out what you're trying to say.

I mean, you quote my post and didn't address what I said at all despite the fact that I was answering YOUR question.

Zaha Torte said:

But I didn't want to think that about the guy - so he must think DeSantis has superpowers. It's the only explanation.

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It's truly not.

You repeat the phrase "it's the only reason/expectation"..... I gave you another one and you ignore it.

Zaha Torte said:

That's a good question. DeSantis could be virtue signaling - or he could just be focusing on more immediate concerns.

Do you think he needs to reference climate change every time he speaks or helps drafts laws?

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Do you think it's a reasonable question to ask when NOBODY is saying that? ...."every time"....nonsense.

Zaha Torte said:

When will it be okay for him to talk or help draft laws about other things?

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What are you even complaining about? DeSantis is, and has been doing exactly that? Now he passes one bill that people take exception with and reality has shifted for you to such an extent that DeSantis is now unable to do anything else?

Zaha Torte said:

These people are acting like DeSantis can control the seas. I am not making that up.

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No. No they are not. It'd be great if you'd have reasonable and rational responses to posts you're missing it. No one in this thread has either.

Zaha Torte said:

It's either that or he is a climate alarmist looking for votes. Do you really want to label the guy?

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Oh ok. You're a person who doesn't read (or comment?) on actual, direct responses to questions and comments.

Zaha Torte said:

What you said boiled down to, "I'm mad that DeSantis won't stop the seas from rising."

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In absolutely no way does anything I saw argue thta. Nobody has argued that in this thread but you keep ACCUSING people of saying that.

You need to read better.

What I said boils down to: "DeSantis is an idiot for ignoring, and attempting to minimize the effect AGW will have on Florida."

What you said is a fabrication.

Zaha Torte said:

I sincerely want to know if you think nuclear power is a good alternative.

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Yes

Zaha Torte said:

Also - I am looking for some intellectual consistency.
People are claiming that Florida is falling into the sea then with their next breath claim that Florida should build a massive nuclear power plant.
Is Florida sinking or not?

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I'm shocked I need to explain this.

1)Open google chrome and get to the search engine.
2) Type in "how much of florida is at risk due to ocean rising"
3) Click on "Images"
4) You'll see maps.

I haven't seen a single soul address your strawman arguments. ALL of the stuff you've been saying around nuclear power could have been cleared up in that 17 seconds.