From the food we eat and our ability to buy it, to whether a place is too hot, too dry, or too frequently flooded to live, climate shapes our civilization, our culture, and our economy. However, climate issues have not yet taken center stage during elections, even in Floridathe state most affected by climate change.

But back-to-back hurricanes Helen and Milton have now shone a spotlight on climate change in the months leading up to a watershed moment. US Senate election. The massive destruction of several states convinced the senator, to say the least. Rick Scottknown for his aversion to talking about climate change, addressed the issue in an interview with CNN.

Although he still questions the scientifically proven fact that burning fossil fuels is causing most of this change – “Who knows what the reason is,” he said – he recognized that “the climate is clearly changing”.

This is a small change that reflects a political reality that almost all Floridians understand that climate change is happening. Colin Polskispecialist in climate social sciences Florida Atlantic Universityalso revealed that, in a survey conducted shortly before Hélène and Milton’s arrival, 52% of respondents favored candidates known for taking climate action. Although partisanship is on the rise when it comes to climate issues, Polsky said “we still have a majority of Floridians who support climate action and a strong candidate on this issue.”

The Herald asked the two candidates – Scott, a Republican and Democratic challenger Debbie Mucarsel-Powell – what actions they plan to take if elected.

Critics have long viewed Scott as an obstacle to progress on climate issues. As governor, he reportedly ordered state staff not to use the words “climate change,” a claim he has since denied. He also aggressively pushed to depopulate the state-run disaster insurance company of last resort while failing to create a stable private insurance market, which continues to cost Floridians dearly for the mandate of the current governor. Ron DeSantis. As a senator, Scott also voted against the Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan Infrastructure Act which included Everglades funding which he has since celebrated as “the largest amount ever allocated by the federal government.”

Mucarsel-Powell’s political record is much shorter, particularly on climate change: a former FIU administrator who joined the WE Since Ecuador as a teenager, she became a U.S. Representative in 2019 and helped pass a bipartisan bill continuing restoration efforts the Evergladeswhich helps protect South Florida’s drinking water from threats like saltwater intrusion. She failed to obtain a second term.

The Herald’s questions focused on key questions for the future: how each candidate plans to help solve the insurance crisis, reduce emissions that make disasters worse, and protect lives and livelihoods. subsistence of Floridians for those to come?

Both candidates generally responded with vague ideas and statements lifted from previous press releases. We’ve condensed the responses for readability, excluded statements that didn’t pass fact-checking, and reduced attacks on their opponents.

Fixing the booming insurance market

Mucarsel-Powell said she would use her power in the Senate pushing for a federal home insurance policy “to compete in the private market and reduce costs for Floridians” by spreading the costs of disasters like hurricanes beyond the state.

That, she said, would be part of a broader “affordability plan” that would include a bill “that would reduce the cost of home insurance by 25 percent,” reducing payments that insurers must pay to their reinsurers. The bill was introduced earlier this year Chamber of Deputiesand would be supported by Mucarsel-Powell in the Senate.

READ MORE: Rick Scott’s opponent criticizes him Florida property insurance crisis. Is she right?

Scott highlighted three bills that he said would make different types of insurance more affordable. One of these bills was introduced last August and is three pages long, including a line stating that individuals “shall be entitled, as a deduction, to an amount equal to the share of eligible insurance premiums paid or incurred during the tax year which does not exceed $10,000.” None of the bills he discussed were passed. Aside from that, he said, the property insurance industry is run by states.

On hurricane recovery and climate resilience

Scott said he wanted to “ensure Floridians are able to take personal steps to protect their homes and make recovery from the next storm less burdensome,” and highlighted his idea of ​​a “yield account deferred tax for emergency residential asset accumulation.” Contributions from owners to this “READY account” would be capped at $4,500 and exempt from taxes. Scott, in office since 2019, announced the plan last week in the wake of two hurricanes.

Mucarsel-Powell says she would aim to work on the other side to secure investments that will strengthen climate resilience projects, as she has done in the past. She said she “will always vote to fund disaster relief in the Senateand a vote for climate resilience.

On reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Mucarsel-Powell says she would not only support the Inflation Reduction Act, which has spurred hundreds of billions of dollars of investment in renewable energy, but also wants to expand it to bring more solar power manufacturing in the country. Florida “and create good-paying jobs while reducing our energy bills and moving away from our dependence on fossil fuels. »

Experts have long highlighted Florida’s largely untapped solar energy potential and criticized its growing reliance on carbon-emitting natural gas, which supplies more than 75 percent of demand.

Rick Scott highlighted the progress being made in reducing harmful emissions and said he was confident that American innovation “will lead the way in solving the problems of climate change.” He did not explain how innovation could solve climate change, or whether he supported specific legislation that would strengthen innovation.

This climate report is funded by Florida International UniversityTHE John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the David and Christina Martin Family Foundation in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains editorial control of all content.

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