FL Lawmakers Miss Climate Change in Fixes to Property Insurance Crisis / Public News Service

Florida lawmakers have signed off on quick fixes to the state’s property insurance crisis – but critics say the plan pays little attention to the growing threat of climate change.

Insurance and risk-management experts agree, Florida’s special session was necessary to curb insurance fraud – from issues like limiting contractors from going door-to-door to repair roofs with minimal damage.

But Charles Nyce, associate director with the Center for Risk Management Education and Research at Florida State University, said fraud is only part of the problem. There are hurricanes, and the uncertainties around even more dangerous storms due to the warming climate.

“What we’re seeing in the last couple of years is both of those things happening,” said Nyce. “We’re seeing a lot of storm activity since 2016-17 to today, and we’re seeing a lot of fraud. And the insurance companies have not been able to survive both of those things happening at once.”

Nyce warned that as more severe storms are reflected in catastrophe models, insurance companies will adjust to avoid potential losses – as they do for sea-level rise, wildfires and other natural disasters.

The package of bills from the special session, which had bipartisan support, has been described as “a meaningful first step.”

Nyce said other options would be to tell people they can’t live on the beach, or find ways to stop the water from coming in. He said given the reluctance to restrict homes in certain areas, he was pleased to see lawmakers offering up to $10,000 grants to make homes less vulnerable to storms.

And he said he’d be in favor of social programs for people who’d be disproportionately affected by climate change.

“Let insurance companies charge what is the actuarially fair rate for the risk that’s posed,” said Nyce. “And if that is unaffordable to some people, then you create a social program that addresses insurance affordability.”

According to the Office of Insurance Regulation, Florida accounts for 9% of the nation’s homeowners-insurance claims, and 79% of the lawsuits over claims filed.

Catastrophic losses like Hurricane Andrew have driven many large national insurers out of the state, leaving Floridians with fewer coverage options.

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The future of transportation in Clark County, particularly electrifying the sector, will be the hot topic at a panel discussion of experts and policymakers tonight in Las Vegas. The state is gearing up as big money from the bipartisan infrastructure law is making its way to Nevada.

Andrew Sierra, political and organizing director for the Nevada Conservation League, said the focus will be transportation, which generates more than a third of emissions, in Clark County and statewide.

“We’ve been able to secure millions of dollars for the next few years,” Sierra pointed out. “Specifically going not just toward our electric grid, but more specifically going to the expansion of a nationwide electric-vehicle charger network.”

In recent years, Nevada lawmakers passed clean-car standards, set goals on renewable energy, joined a federal effort to phase out dirty trucks, and moved forward on plans for a high-speed train from southern California.

Also today, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland is visiting Las Vegas to promote new permits for renewable energy on federal land.

Justin Jones, Clark County commissioner and vice chair of the Regional Transportation Commission, said the clean-cars bill prioritizes equity, so low-income families can afford to switch to hybrid or fully electric vehicles.

“That bill will allow for conversion of current vehicles or allow them to replace their polluting vehicle with a clean vehicle,” Jones explained.

The panel discussion will take place at Motional, a company planning to run a fleet of driverless electric robotaxis to ferry people from the airport to the Vegas Strip. In addition, The Boring Company is building out the Vegas Loop tunnel, which will use electric trams to move people around downtown. And local bus fleets are transitioning to electric and hydrogen fuel-cell models.

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As summer rolls in across Colorado, the threats of wildfire, diminishing snowpack and prolonged drought weigh heavy on the minds of many residents who cherish the state’s iconic landscapes and wildlife.

Conservationists are encouraging people to get in touch with their local land trusts to be part of the climate solution.

Melissa Daruna, executive director of the group Keep it Colorado, said investing in conservation is critical for maintaining the state’s vital resources and biodiversity.

“Because it helps us protect the land and the water and provide habitat for the wildlife,” Daruna contended. “All of that creates more resiliency, and helps to kind of protect us from the most severe impacts of climate change.”

Land Trusts are already at work, using a variety of tools, to protect private and public natural and working lands in all corners of the state. Daruna pointed out you do not have to be a landowner to make a difference. To connect with a trust near you, follow the “get empowered” link at keepitco.org.

A recent survey found 83% of Coloradans support a national climate mitigation goal of protecting 30% of America’s lands and waters by 2030, but they are not necessarily rolling up their sleeves and getting to work.

Daruna emphasized summer is an ideal time to get involved with your local land trust. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities and innovative fundraisers.

“Buying tickets to go on facilitated hikes. It can look like volunteering on a stewardship project or a trail-restoration project,” Daruna outlined. “It can look like buying food from a local farm or ranch that is conserved.”

Nearly nine in 10 Coloradans surveyed said a public official’s stance on the environment is important. Daruna added as the November midterms draw closer, it is important for voters to take action at the ballot box.

“Take a deep dive into who is likely to represent them moving forward at the state and the federal level,” Daruna urged. “Making sure that they also, those elected officials, represent their constituents’ values on the environment and action on climate.”

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This Memorial Day, state and local leaders are speaking out – calling climate change the battle of our time – crucial to national security.

Advocates are calling on President Joe Biden to invoke the Defense Production Act to speed up the transition to renewable energy and phase out dependence on fossil fuels.

Mayor Daniel Lee of Culver City is a veteran of the Air Force and the California Air National Guard who currently works as project director at the James Lawson Institute. He said the invasion of Ukraine is being financed by Russian oil and gas.

“The war in Ukraine is a resource war,” said Lee. “And the more the world doesn’t rely on Russian oil for electricity for heating or cooling, the less we are apt to engage in resource wars and the more we can slow down the effects of climate change.”

Russian oil and gas make up 40% of Europe’s energy consumption, but countries are working to reduce that dependence as quickly as possible.

New Mexico State Rep. Debbie Sariñana – D-Albuquerque – also is an Air Force veteran. She noted that climate change is fueling extreme drought and massive wildfires across the West – so leaders must act to slow the damage.

“We have people dying for our country,” said Sariñana. “And what kind of country do we have, if climate change continues? Our planet can’t sustain this much longer. We’re just borrowing the world from our grandkids.”

Five hundred state and local leaders, including Lee and Sariñana, have signed a petition from the group “Elected Officials to Protect America” calling on the administration to declare a climate emergency and implement a clean-energy plan. They both serve as members of the group’s leadership council.

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