Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Nikki, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Friedan independently elected member of the Florida cabinet, issued a proclamation declaring October 3-7 as Florida Climate Week, highlighting the threat of climate change to Florida and encouraging all Floridians to speak out about sustainable solutions at the local and state levels to inform.
“Each year, the realities of climate change become clearer as Florida uniquely experiences rising temperatures, rising sea levels and extreme weather events – with the effects already being seen across the state. Collective and cooperative action by government, the private sector, academics and individuals is the only way we can overcome this growing threat. During this week, I urge all Floridians to educate themselves about the challenges we face and how they can play an active role in protecting our state for generations to come.” said commissioner Fried.
From October 3rd, the non-profit VoLo Foundation will host a week-long event of virtual, open-access presentations statewide from industry leaders, frontline advocates, companies and organizations working to address and mitigate the impacts of climate change on Florida’s communities.
“Florida residents deserve to be educated and informed about the climate crisis they are facing. At the VoLo Foundation, we’re committed to being the bridge between the science community and everyone else, and that’s why this week-long series of events needs to happen — so all of us who call home Florida know what’s at stake and are ready , to prioritize climate protection that moves the needle”, said Thai’s Lopez VogelCo-Founder and Trustee of the VoLo Foundation.
Background: Since he took office, Commissioner Fried has made climate change, energy efficiency, and social and economic justice its top priorities. Under commissioner FriedUnder her leadership, she hosted the first statewide summit to address climate change since 2008 and released the 76-page Florida Energy and Climate Plan[ 
], and commissioned the first nationwide Energy Equity Study to better understand the range of energy burdens faced by low-to-moderate income Floridians. Last April, it announced its intention to set new statewide renewable energy targets, and in August finalized those new rules to increase the amount of renewable energy consumed by the state to 100 percent by 2050. The rule also requires each electric utility to report annually the amount of renewable energy they produce or purchase.
The proclamation recognizing Florida Climate Week can be viewed here or on Twitteras follows:
WHATEVER, the United Nations reported in 2022 that emissions of harmful gases contributing to global warming were the highest ever recorded in the past decade; and
WHATEVER, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that “we are on a path to global warming of more than double the 1.5 degree limit (Celsius or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit)” agreed in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement and provided the scientific data to support such a statement; and
WHATEVER, Florida’s population and economy are being impacted by sea level rise at a rate of approximately 1 inch every three years and surface temperatures leading to seven consecutive years of above-average hurricane activity; and
WHATEVER, Florida’s rising average temperatures and prolonged periods of extreme heat are devastating the health of Florida citizens and leading to an increase in mortality risk statewide due to higher risks of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases; and
WHATEVER, Florida is home to a growing population whose homes are increasingly at risk from hurricanes, storm surges and flooding, burdening them with soaring insurance costs and drastically reduced coverage; and
WHATEVER, Florida’s power grid and transportation systems run primarily on fossil fuels, which are responsible for more than 80 percent of the state’s global warming emissions, requiring a rapid transition to zero-emission renewable energy sources; and
WHATEVER, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumers has worked to mitigate the damage of climate change through the adoption of new statewide renewable energy goals, joint problem-solving through the Florida Energy and Climate Summit, and collaboration with federal partners. and
WHATEVER, the VoLo Foundation and other nonprofit organizations, local, state and federal leaders, volunteer and professional associations, and news media are committed to informing and educating Floridians about the urgency of the climate crisis so that citizens can take individual and collective action to create positive change to protect themselves, their families and their businesses; and
WHATEVERFlorida Climate Week is a free, virtual summit bringing together industry leaders, advocates, educators and businesses to raise public awareness of the causes and consequences of global warming and to discuss how to work on solutions that will create a sustainable planet for the future promote generations.
SO NOWme, Nicole FriedFlorida State Commissioner of Agriculture, hereby declare the first Monday of October the start of Florida Climate Week and encourage all Florida residents to use the resources available to better understand the impacts of climate change, to consider the role of climate change in our state, and work with others to find sustainable solutions for us and future generations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOFI have laid my hand on it and caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be placed in Tallahassee, the Capitol, this October 3rd in the year two thousand and twenty-two.
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