A coalition of environmental groups issued a report today detailing evidence of global warming that is already observable here in Florida. The report, titled Preparing for A Sea Change, says Florida must begin taking action now to avert disaster.

Homes like this one, damaged but still standing on what is no loner dry land, a road, repaired again and again are all evidence of global warming. Paul Johnson of Reef Relief says this red mangrove tree growing on the coast south of Tallahassee is proof something is amiss.

“It’s a rarity to find this plant here. It’s usually found hundreds of miles to the south and west of here.”

Crape Myrtles like this one aren’t typically in full bloom until mid-July. But here’s the rub, May has been an exceptionally cool month here in North Florida.

The Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition released a broad ranging report, calling on government to limit the use fossil fuels and more. Joe Murphy of the Gulf Restoration Network says average people have a part to play.

“The first thing is as simple as voting. When you go to vote think about a candidates environmental record, think about where they stand on climate change.”

While the coalition says time is running out to begin taking action, Paul Johnson of the group “Reef Relief” also says the tide is turning.

“We fuel our whole industrial, economic complex with petroleum that we don’t have enough of. It’s becoming incredibly expensive. So the economics of this are in the right direction.”

The bottom line of the report: society needs to stop fighting nature and
embrace it.

The report also calls for less building on the coast, protection of water resources and runoff, a reduction in CO 2 gases and an overall commitment by government to take action.