'Climate change isn't real': Ron DeSantis erases mentions of climate change from Florida law

Florida no longer considers Climate Change a priority. Defying "Radical green zealots," Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday (May 15) signed a new legislation that will see Climate Change disappear from state statutes.

The legislation, which is set to take effect from July 1, will also see a ban on power-generating wind turbines offshore or near the state's lengthy coastline.

Critics of the legislation, as per the news agency AP, say that the measure ignores the reality of climate change threats in Florida. This includes projections of rising seas, extreme heat and flooding, and increasingly severe storms.

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'Radical green zealots'

On X, DeSantis said, "Florida rejects the designs of the left to weaken our energy grid, pursue a radical climate agenda, and promote foreign adversaries."

"We're restoring sanity in our approach to energy and rejecting the agenda of the radical green zealots," he added.

The new Florida legislation

Starting July 1, the measure, as per a news release from the Florida governor's office, would also boost expansion of natural gas, reduce regulations on gas pipelines in the state and increase protections against bans on gas appliances such as stoves.

The legislation will erase several instances of the word "climate change" from state statutes. Additionally, it removes over 50 lines specifically related to addressing the matter of climate change from the state law, which were enacted in 2008 during the tenure of the-then Republican Governor Charlie Crist. 

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The sections of the existing law that will be erased include a provision for addressing the "potential of global climate change" as a state energy policy, and a provision for the state to "play a leading role in developing and implementing energy management programs aimed at promoting energy conservation, energy security, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions."

It also removes provisions mandating that state agencies shall hold meetings and conferences only in hotels or conference facilities that have received the "Green Lodging" designation from the Department of Environmental Protection "for best practices in water, energy, and waste efficiency standards, unless the responsible state agency head makes a determination that no other viable alternative exists."

As per a legislative analysis of the bill as published on the Florida Gov website, the priority is to ensure "an adequate, reliable and cost-effective supply of energy for the state in a manner that promotes the health and welfare of the public and economic growth".

(With inputs from agencies)