HAHarvey Walden
4 days agoClimate Change
Sea Level Rise and Regional Resiliency
The sea level is rising and we in Hollywood are experiencing it through sunny day flooding events. The frequency has been less than 8 days/year thus far. With sea level rise above 2 feet NAVD by 2060, the frequency would be 226 days/year. Thus, the US Army Corps of Engineers and Broward County conducted a study of flood risk management in Hollywood Lakes and Las Olas Isles in the City of Fort Lauderdale. They modeled different seawall heights to see how well the walls would protect the land from overtopping by king tides and storms of varying strength.
Based on these findings, the Broward County Commission is considering new regulations for seawall heights. These regulations would be an integral part of a holistic approach the County is crafting to address tidal flooding and surge protection. Broward County is proposing seawalls that are 4 feet NAVD by 2035 and 5 feet NAVD by 2050, allowing 2 years for municipal implementation. Resilience features like this will help prevent large increases in national flood insurance rates.
Climate Mayors
In June 2017, Mayor Josh Levy joined Climate Mayors. Climate Mayors (aka the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda) is a Mayor-to-Mayor network of US Mayors collaborating on climate. There are no binding commitments as a Climate Mayors member, only that cities are pursuing actions to achieve an emissions reduction target through:
- Developing a community Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory
- Setting near- and long-term targets to reduce emissions
- Developing a Climate Action Plan aligned with the city's targets
Members of the Climate Mayors network are asked to join in occasional letters and statements, such as the following:
STATEMENT FROM THE CLIMATE MAYORS IN RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT
Thursday, June 1st 2017
The President's denial of global warming is getting a cold reception from America's cities.
As 246 US Mayors representing 56 million Americans, we will adopt, honor, and uphold the commitments to the goals enshrined in the Paris Agreement. We will intensify efforts to meet each of our cities' current climate goals, push for new action to meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius target, and work together to create a 21st century clean energy economy.
We will continue to lead. We are increasing investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. We will buy and create more demand for electric cars and trucks. We will increase our efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, create a clean energy economy, and stand for environmental justice. And if the President wants to break the promises made to our allies enshrined in the historic Paris Agreement, we'll build and strengthen relationships around the world to protect the planet from devastating climate risks.
The world cannot wait — and neither will we.
Signed,
Mayor Josh Levy
City of Hollywood, FL
Commitment to Climate Action
In June 2017, the City Commission voted on Resolution R-2017-168 to reaffirm its commitment to climate action.
R-2017-168: A Resolution Of The City Commission Of The City Of Hollywood, Florida, To Reaffirm Commitment To Climate Action And The Climate Goals Set Out In The City's Sustainability Action Plan, To Support The Principles And Goals Of The Paris Agreement, And To Continue To Implement Actions To Meet Established Climate Mitigation Goals.
What are the City's Climate Action Plans?
Within the City's Sustainability Action Plan exist metrics, goals and actions designed to reduce the City's carbon emissions:
Metric: Greenhouse Gas Emissions - 80% reduction by 2050
Goal: Resiliency and Adaptation Goal #1: Reduce the City's contribution to the driving causes of sea level rise and climate change.
Actions to reduce GHG emissions:
Action 1: Include sustainability criteria in all City plans and guidelines
Action 8: Improve energy efficiency at City properties
Action 9: Adopt green procurement policies
Action 12: Increase the renewable energy generated and used by the City
Action 14: Retrofit street lights to LED
Action 21: Track community scale greenhouse gas emissions and set reduction targets
Action 35: Create zoning regulations to encourage multi-modal transit
Action 37: Enhance green building program
Action 46: Mitigate Urban Heat Island
Action 56: Develop energy efficiency programs
Action 59: Increase renewable energy generation city wide
Action 65: Decrease emissions related to solid waste
Action 72: Reduce air pollution related to vehicles
Action 75: Increase air quality by planting trees
Action 86: Increase the transit options available in the City
Action 87: Increase ridership on existing transit system
Action 88: Improve the City's bike infrastructure
Action 90: Enhance walkability in the City
Action 91: Create parking policies that will decrease vehicle miles traveled and congestion related to parking
Action 93: Increase the number of vehicles which are fuel efficient or use alternative fuels
