Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact

The Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact is a joint commitment of Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach Counties to partner in mitigating the causes and adapting to the consequences of climate change.

The Compact was formalized following the 2009 Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit, when elected officials came together to discuss challenges and strategies for responding to the impacts of climate change. The Compact committed the Counties to work on federal and state climate policies and joint advocacy in Tallahassee and Washington, DC on climate policies related to the shared challenges of climate change.  It also outlined a collaborative effort to participate in a Regional Climate Team toward the development of technical tools (see below) and compilation of a Southeast Florida Regional Climate Action Plan. 

The 5th Annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit is scheduled for November, 2013 in Broward County at the Broward County Convention Center.  Details will be available in the Fall 2013.

Baseline for Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Southeast Florida

A regional greenhouse gas emissions inventory was developed to establish the baseline level of emissions from targeted sources and to establish reductions goals. Targeted sources included electrical, natural gas, fuel sales and transportation-related emissions. The Regional GHG Emissions Inventory report is available on the Compact website.

Unified Sea Level Rise Projection

At the October 23, 2009 SE FL Regional Climate Leadership Summit, the local diversity in sea level rise (SLR) projections was highlighted as a concern and a barrier to achieving regionally consistent adaptation policies and effective communications on risk assessments.

Through a series of facilitated discussions, a Work Group of local scientists and professionals knowledgeable on sea level rise science reviewed the existing regional projections and the current scientific literature related to SLR with particular emphasis on the impact of accelerating ice melt.

The Regional Compact Sea Level Rise Projections White Paper is available on the Compact website.

Inundation Mapping and Vulnerability Assessment of Areas at Risk by Sea Level Rise 

The need to develop a unified set of methodologies and criteria for creating sea level inundation maps for the SE FL region was also identified. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center (CSC) worked closely with Broward County and South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to coordinate a two-day technical workshop in April 2010 to initiate this process. The Analysis of the Vulnerability of Southeast Florida to Sea Level Rise can be found on the Compact Website.

Adaptation Action Area 

Inundation mapping and risk assessments revealed the need to focus adaptation improvements in areas of increased risk of inundation due to sea level rise, and the means for directing future funding to these targeted areas. The term Adaptation Action Area (AAA) was created to provide for special designation of these priority planning areas where coastal and tidal flooding placed public and private infrastructure at risk.

"Adaptation action area" or "adaptation area" is an optional comprehensive plan designation for areas that experience coastal flooding and that are vulnerable to the related impacts of rising sea levels for the purpose of prioritizing funding for infrastructure needs and adaptation planning. The Adaptation Action Areas White Paper can be found on the Compact website. 

Past Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summits

Please visit the previous Summit Websites for videos, presentations and additional information.

 2012: Palm Beach County in Jupiter Beach

2011: Monroe County in Key Largo