Though politics and COVID-19 are two topics adult Floridians are focused on right now, the CLEO Institute reminded people across the state about a very important subject: the seriousness of the Florida climate crisis.
Floridians experience more days of extreme heat which exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The summer days from July to August of this year have been much hotter than in previous ones. The month of August 2020 was one of the hottest ones on record. Even before that, the first six-month period of 2020 was the hottest one on record.
How is climate change affecting Floridians? Climate change, a change in average conditions such as temperature and rainfall, is the cause for more hurricanes, droughts, floods, sea levels, and heat waves. The state faces problems related to the Florida tourism industry because of climate change. It isn’t just COVID-19 that is placing the health and lives of millions of Floridians at risk. Florida was second in most heat-related car deaths in 2018. In addition, unique species of animal life in Florida are also at stake. There is a strong scientific consensus from national and international academies and organizations that our planet has been getting warmer since the late 1800s due mainly to human activities.
What can be done to inform more people to take action for the benefit of Floridians? The CLEO Institute visited Orlando, Tampa and Miami in September to show the importance of climate change with different sculptures representing the Sunshine State.
Collaborating with the CLEO Institute and the ad agency Zubi Advertising was Bob Partington, host of Thing-ama-Bob. He used his knowledge and expertise in art, science, math and tech to create the sculptures taken to each mentioned city alongside 1stAvenueMachine mixed media production company from Los Angeles.
“Florida is such a visually enthralling state,” Partington said. “There are so many things that make it special. But the Zubi team asked us to hone-in on three icons that represent what Floridians and the world stand to lose – forever – if action is not taken now.”
You may have seen videos in your local news about a sculpture at each of the three Florida cities [WKMG/Orlando; El Sentinel/Orlando; John Morales NBC 6 South Florida; Tampa Bay Times]. Did you see what happened to them? Check out the following photos and videos. Also, check out https://flclimatecrisis.org/. You’ll have the option to sign the Climate Emergency Declaration petition.
Miami: Lifeguard Hut – Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science
Tampa: Panther mother and cub – ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Orlando: Grandfather and granddaughter – Orlando City Hall
[All Three Cities]:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXXg4t73R-0
[Source]: The CLEO Institute: Welcome to the Florida Climate Crisis Campaign.