Fifth Annual Florida Climate Conference Asks How We’ll Pay for Climate Change – Sarasota Magazine

Report on Florida’s Ocean Economy Initiative and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Integrating Economic Growth with Marine Conservation

A new state-supported initiative, the Florida Office of Ocean Economy, has been established to align economic development with environmental stewardship, directly addressing several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Led by Dr. Colin Polsky of Florida Atlantic University, the office’s primary mission is to understand, support, and sustainably grow Florida’s ocean- and coastal-based industries. This mandate is fundamentally linked to achieving a balance between economic progress and environmental preservation, reflecting the core principles of the following SDGs:

• SDG 14 (Life Below Water): By focusing on the sustainable use of marine resources, the initiative aims to conserve and protect the ocean environment that underpins the state’s economy.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The office seeks to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth by fostering jobs, investment, and innovation within the ocean economy.

The financial and strategic challenges of this mission were a central topic at the fifth annual Climate Forecast Conference, where experts convened to discuss the economic implications of climate change.

Challenges to Climate Action and Sustainable Partnerships

Dr. Polsky reports a significant lack of progress in climate policy since 1988, characterizing historical efforts as a “spectacular failure.” This stagnation presents a direct challenge to SDG 13 (Climate Action), which calls for urgent measures to combat climate change and its impacts. The situation is exacerbated by contemporary challenges, including:

1. The rollback of federal environmental protections and climate mitigation measures.
2. A significant reduction in federal funding for climate research and adaptation projects.

These funding gaps necessitate alternative financial models and robust collaborations, highlighting the importance of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Dr. Polsky identifies two primary pathways to secure necessary resources: engaging large-scale philanthropic organizations and leveraging the strategic framework of the Florida Office of Ocean Economy.

The Florida Office of Ocean Economy: A Strategic Framework for SDGs

Initially unfunded, the Florida Office of Ocean Economy is now positioned to develop a strategic plan for the state. While not created explicitly for climate change, its core mission inherently supports multiple SDGs. The office’s second-year objectives, supported by new funding, are to create a strategic plan that advances:

• SDG 14 (Life Below Water): Ensuring that economic growth does not damage or destroy the marine and coastal ecosystems that are the source of that growth.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Systematically identifying and supporting the needs of Florida’s ocean-dependent economic sectors.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): Fostering innovation in marine industries to build a resilient and sustainable economic foundation.

Focus on Resilient Infrastructure and Sustainable Communities

A major strategic focus for the office is flood risk mitigation, a critical issue for Florida’s coastal communities. This priority directly addresses the targets of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), which aims to make human settlements safe, resilient, and sustainable. According to the Florida Climate Resilience Survey, over two-thirds of residents are concerned about intensifying hurricanes. Dr. Polsky notes that increased flooding is a byproduct of development and the proliferation of impervious surfaces, which prevent natural water absorption.

Addressing this challenge requires investment in sustainable adaptation strategies and resilient infrastructure, a key component of SDG 9. The office’s work in this area seeks to demonstrate that proactive investment in sustainable infrastructure is significantly less costly than reactive measures.

Conclusion: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Sustainable Development

The Florida Office of Ocean Economy serves as a pivotal platform for convening government, philanthropists, and local businesses. This collaborative approach is essential for implementing sustainable adaptation strategies and is a practical application of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). By integrating economic objectives with environmental resilience, the initiative provides a model for achieving sustainable development in a coastal state facing the immediate impacts of climate change. The discussions at the Climate Adaptation Center conference underscore the urgency of mobilizing diverse resources to finance a sustainable and resilient future for Florida’s communities and its vital ocean economy.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 14: Life Below Water
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Target 8.9: By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products. The article directly addresses this by describing the mission of the Florida Office of Ocean Economy, which is to “better understand, support and grow the ocean- and coastal-based industries that drive jobs, investment and innovation.” This focuses on the sustainable development of the “ocean economy,” which includes tourism.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations. The article highlights “flood risk mitigation” as a major area of focus, noting that “flooding is getting worse as a byproduct of development.” This directly relates to reducing the impact of water-related disasters on communities.
  • Target 11.b: By 2030, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters. The article discusses the need for “sustainable adaptation strategies” and the creation of a “strategic plan for how the state can grow and support the ocean economy sustainably,” which aligns with implementing integrated policies for climate adaptation and resilience.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The article’s central theme is adapting to a “warming planet.” It mentions that “more than two-thirds of Floridians are concerned about hurricanes increasing in strength and frequency” and focuses on developing “sustainable adaptation strategies” to address these climate-related hazards.
  • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The creation of the Florida Office of Ocean Economy and its goal to create a “strategic plan” for sustainable growth is a direct example of integrating climate and environmental considerations into state-level economic policy and planning.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  • Target 14.7: By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism. While Florida is not a developing state, the principle of sustainably managing marine resources for economic benefit is central. The article’s focus is on how to “sustainably grow the economy without damaging or destroying the environment that is the source for growth,” specifically in relation to “industries that are dependent on the ocean or the state’s coastlines.”

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. The article explicitly discusses the need for alternative funding and collaboration due to the loss of federal support. Dr. Polsky’s session will discuss how “government, philanthropists and local businesses can come together around sustainable adaptation strategies,” which is a direct call for public-private-civil society partnerships. The turn to “big philanthropy” is also highlighted as a key strategy.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Florida Climate Resilience Survey: The article explicitly mentions this survey, which is “conducted by FAU’s School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability.” The results of this survey, such as the finding that “more than two-thirds of Floridians are concerned about hurricanes,” can serve as an indicator for Target 13.1 by measuring public awareness and concern regarding climate-related hazards, which is a component of building resilience.
• Statutorily Mandated Annual Report: The article notes that the Florida Office of Ocean Economy published its “statutorily mandated annual report.” This report, and the data it contains on the “needs of Florida’s ocean economy,” can function as an indicator to measure progress on understanding and managing the ocean economy sustainably (relevant to Targets 8.9 and 14.7).
• Creation and Implementation of a Strategic Plan: The article mentions that a goal for the office is to “create a strategic plan for how the state can grow and support the ocean economy sustainably.” The existence and subsequent implementation of this plan is a direct indicator of progress for Target 13.2, which focuses on integrating climate measures into policies and planning.
• Level of Philanthropic and Private Investment: The article identifies “big philanthropy” and local businesses as alternative funding sources. The amount of funding mobilized from these non-governmental sources to support climate adaptation and the ocean economy can be an implied indicator for Target 17.17, measuring the success of these partnerships.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: sarasotamagazine.com