Climate Change

​Sea Level Rise and Regional Resiliency



The sea level is rising and we in Hollywood are experiencing it through sunny day flooding events. The frequency has been less than 8 days/year thus far. With sea level rise above 2 feet NAVD by 2060, the frequency would be 226 days/year. Thus, the US Army Corps of Engineers and Broward County conducted a study of flood risk management in Hollywood Lakes and Las Olas Isles in the City of Fort Lauderdale. They modeled different seawall heights to see how well the walls would protect the land from overtopping by king tides and storms of varying strength.

Based on these findings, the Broward County Commission is considering new regulations for seawall heights. These regulations would be an integral part of a holistic approach the County is crafting to address tidal flooding and surge protection. Broward County is proposing seawalls that are 4 feet NAVD by 2035 and 5 feet NAVD by 2050, allowing 2 years for municipal implementation. Resilience features like this will help prevent large increases in national flood insurance rates.

US Army Corps of Engineers Flood Risk Management Study Results
Regional Resiliency Strategy Presentation
Proposed Seawall Height Policy Presentation

For additional resources on sea level rise impacts in South Florida, check out Broward County's sea level rise toolbox.

Climate Mayors

In June 2017, Mayor Josh Levy joined Climate Mayors.

What is Climate Mayors? Visit their Climate Mayors website to learn more.

Climate Mayors (aka the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda) is a Mayor-to-Mayor network of US Mayors collaborating on climate. There are no binding commitments a  Climate Mayors member, only that cities are pursuing actions to achieve an emissions reduction target through:

    1. Developing a community Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory
    2. Setting near- and long-term targets to reduce emissions
    3. Developing a Climate Action Plan aligned with the city's targets.

In addition, we ask members of the Climate Mayors network to join in occasional letters and statements, such as the following:

STATEMENT FROM THE CLIMATE MAYORS IN RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP’S WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT

Thursday, June 1st 2017

The President’s denial of global warming is getting a cold reception from America’s cities.

As 246 US Mayors representing 56 million Americans, we will adopt, honor, and uphold the commitments to the goals enshrined in the Paris Agreement. We will intensify efforts to meet each of our cities’ current climate goals, push for new action to meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius target, and work together to create a 21st century clean energy economy.

We will continue to lead. We are increasing investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. We will buy and create more demand for electric cars and trucks. We will increase our efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, create a clean energy economy, and stand for environmental justice. And if the President wants to break the promises made to our allies enshrined in the historic Paris Agreement, we’ll build and strengthen relationships around the world to protect the planet from devastating climate risks.

The world cannot wait — and neither will we.

Signed,

Mayor Josh Levy
City of Hollywood, FL


Commitment to Climate Action


In June 2017, the City Commission voted on Resolution R-2017-168 to reaffirm its commitment to climate action.

R-2017-168 
A Resolution Of The City Commission Of The City Of Hollywood, Florida, To Reaffirm Commitment To Climate Action And The 
Climate Goals Set Out In The City’s Sustainability Action Plan, To Support The Principles And Goals Of The Paris Agreement, And To Continue To Implement Actions To Meet Established Climate Mitigation Goals.  Full text. 

What are the City's Climate Action Plans?


Within the City's Sustainability Action Plan exist metrics, goals and actions designed to reduce the City's carbon emissions:

Metric: Greenhouse Gas Emissions - 80% reduction by 2050

Goal: Resiliency and Adaptation Goal #1: Reduce the City's contribution to the driving causes of sea level rise and climate change.

Actions to reduce GHG emissons:
Action # Description of Action
1 Include sustainability criteria in all City plans and guidelines.
8 Improve energy efficiency at City properties
9 Adopt green procurement policies.
12 Increase the renewable energy generated and used by the City.
14 Retrofit street lights to LED.
21 Track community scale greenhouse gas emissions and set reduction targets.
35 Create zoning regulations to encourage multi-modal transit.
37 Enhance green building program.
46 Mitigate Urban Heat Island.
56 Develop energy efficiency programs.
59 Increase renewable energy generation city wide.
65 Decrease emissions related to solid waste.
72 Reduce air pollution related to vehicles.
75 Increase air quality by planting trees.
86 Increase the transit options available in the City.
87 Increase ridership on existing transit system.
88 Improve the City's bike infrastructure.
90 Enhance walkability in the City.
91 Create parking policies that will decrease vehicle miles traveled and congestion related to parking.
93 Increase the number of vehicles which are fuel efficient or use alternative fuels.

Where can you learn more about Climate Change?


Learn more about the science from NASA or the IPCC. 

For more about what is happening in Southeast Florida visit the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact.