FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 4, 2019
Contact: Julieta Rodrigo: julieta@cleoinstitute.org, 305-573-5251
Melissa Baldwin: melissameehanbaldwin@gmail.com, 727-743-3778
Miami Climate Month Spotlights the #ClimateEmergency
In Advance of the June 26-27th Democratic Presidential Debates,
Groups Call for Bold Climate Solutions
More than a dozen state and local organizations in Florida have teamed with national environmental groups to launch the first-ever Miami Climate Month, four weeks of public events and actions that will highlight the critical necessity of immediate action on climate during the month leading up to the first Democratic presidential primary debates.
Under the leadership of the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, ReThink Energy Florida, The CLEO Institute, and Environment Florida, Miami Climate Month is sounding the alarm about the urgency of the climate crisis. The groups are underscoring the need to adapt to the impacts already in the pipeline and the urgent need to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the worst impacts.
Miami Climate Month is a collaboration to spark conversations about the impacts of climate change and highlight the solutions to address what Miami, all of Florida, and the entire world are already experiencing due to the climate emergency.
Starting May 30th, Miami Climate Month will feature public actions, panels, press briefings, watch parties, workshops, art installations, and other events throughout June, culminating in the Underwater Climate Rally and march to the debate hall on Thursday, June 27th, the evening of the second night of the Miami presidential debate.
“Climate change must be thoroughly discussed at the first Democratic primary debates – and at every debate thereafter. Voters must know how candidates intend to tackle the most crucial issue of the century” said Susan Glickman, Florida Director of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
“When the presidential democratic candidates visit Miami for the debate this month, they are going to see how South Florida communities are on the front lines of the climate crisis. The seas are rising, streets are flooding on a sunny day, storms are getting stronger quicker, days are getting hotter, and algal blooms are getting worse. We expect candidates to rise to the magnitude of this existential challenge and make the climate crisis a top priority in their agendas” said Yoca Arditi-Rocha, Executive Director of the CLEO Institute.
“Addressing the climate change crisis must be a central platform for any serious presidential candidate as the costs and harms of climate-related disasters – including flooding, wildfires and intensified storms – mount around our nation,” said Dr. Rachel Cleetus, policy director and lead climate and energy economist for the Union of Concerned Scientists. “The latest scientific research projects annual losses in some U.S. economic sectors could exceed $100 billion by the end of the century, surpassing the GDP of many states. In contrast, we would reap tremendous economic and public health benefits from transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Young people are counting on leadership and urgent action from the U.S. president, joining together with the global community, to limit the worst impacts of climate change.”
We invite you to attend the events planned around Miami in June, and please join us for media briefings for national and regional reporters to provide background on covering climate change in Florida:
When: Wednesday, June 5th, 11 a.m. Eastern
Who: Tim Hall, Senior Research Scientist, NASA
Jennifer Francis, Senior Scientist, Woods Hole Research Center
Where: Register here to participate on Zoom
When: Friday, June 14th, 10 a.m. Eastern
Who: Brenda Ekwurzel, Director of Climate Science, Union of Concerned Scientists
Kate Stein, freelance reporter, former NPR climate reporter
Ed Maibach, Director, George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communications
Susan Glickman, Florida Director, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE)
Where: Join Zoom meeting or call in (646) 876-9923; Meeting ID: 381 952 272
When: Thursday, June 20th, Time TBD
Who: Environment Florida, CLEO Institute, Rethink Energy Florida
Where: Registration TBD
When: Thursday, June 27
Who: Miami Climate Alliance, Union of Concerned Scientists, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Rethink Energy, Pay Up Climate Polluters, CLEO Institute, Environment Florida, and more
Where: Rally & March to Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center
In addition to these media briefings, there are multiple other coverage opportunities including a live recording of the Drilled Podcast, a climate action workshop at the Vizcaya Museum, and more. Follow all of the activity on MiamiClimateMonth.com and follow the hashtag #ClimateEmergency on Twitter.