Florida’s population has tripled since 1970 reaching 23 million people in 2025, making it the third most populous state in the US. More than 16 million Floridians live in coastal counties vulnerable to climate-related issues such as rising sea levels and flooding.
In 2016, the EPA published a report pointing out that the Florida peninsula had warmed more than one degree (F) during the last century, that the sea was rising about one inch every decade, and that heavy rainstorms were becoming more severe. It predicted that rising temperatures were likely to increase storm damages, harm coral reefs, increase the frequency of unpleasantly hot days, and reduce the risk of freezing to Florida’s agriculture. And, it observed that along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of Florida, the land surface was also sinking, a result of sea level rise and increased precipitation, submerging wetlands and dry land, which was eroding beaches and exacerbating both coastal and inland flooding.
NOAA’s State Climate Summary for Florida, published in 2022, echoes the EPA report, updating figures and predictions. As of 2022, Florida has warmed 2 degrees (F) during the last century. NOAA estimates by 2050 Florida will experience over 50 days per year with temperatures of 95 degrees (F) or higher, and the summer heat index will increase by 8 degrees to 15 degrees (F), more than any other state. Warming temperatures will continue to increase the intensity and frequency of droughts, raising the risk of wildfires. The sea level is predicted to rise 1-4 feet by 2100, exacerbating coastal flooding and the risk of saltwater intrusion on groundwater reservoirs.
Rising sea levels in The Everglades, a biodiverse wetlands ecosystem on the southern tip of Florida, could lead to saltwater intrusion, mangrove migration and wetland shifts. Migrating mangroves means habitat loss for endangered and threatened species, and the loss of a valuable store for carbon dioxide. The Everglades also replenishes and filters the Biscayne Aquifer, the main source of drinking water in Florida. Rising sea levels could lead to saltwater intrusion in the porous limestone aquifer. While a massive $27 billion restoration project is underway, involving the construction of stormwater treatment areas to act as natural buffers for pollution, a March 2026 report by Friends of the Everglades reveals that the restoration is not on track to meet water quality standards.
The Indian River Lagoon, a 156-mile long highly biodiverse estuary stretching Florida’s east coast, has already been experiencing an ecological crisis due to climate change and pollution. An excess of nutrients in the lagoon from agricultural and industrial runoff, leaking septic systems, stormwater, and improperly treated sewage has led to harmful algal blooms, killing off 90% of the lagoon’s seagrass biomass and 25% of the estimated manatee population. As sea levels rise, the Indian River Lagoon could experience declining seagrass and mangrove communities, displacement of native plants and animals, and losses of mud flats and salt marshes.
As of early 2026, over half of Florida is currently in “extreme drought” and 22% is experiencing “exceptional drought.” While Governor DeSantis falsely claimed this will lead to fewer hurricanes, the drought is depleting water sources and sparking wildfires across northern Florida, which are also fueled by leftover vegetation from hurricanes like Hurricane Helene.
Florida has large biomass and solar resources, and insignificant oil and natural gas reserves, but its energy grid is primarily powered by imported fossil fuels through interstate pipelines. It is the third largest energy-consuming state, but due to its large population, its per-capita energy consumption ranks amongst the lowest six states. After Texas, Florida is the second-largest electricity producing state. Since surpassing coal in 2003, natural gas has generated the majority of Florida’s electricity, accounting for 70% of total generation in 2025. The second largest source is nuclear power, providing over one-tenth. Renewables provided 12% in 2025, up from 7% in 2022, mostly solar and biomass, while coal was 4% (down from 36% in 2001).
The Sunshine State is third in the nation for solar energy (behind California and Texas), with solar energy contributing almost 90% of renewable energy. The majority of this energy comes from utility-scale facilities, as Florida is one of four states with solar thermal power plants and is in the top five states for new utility-scale solar capacity added to the grid in 2025. Small-scale installations have also increased, providing five times more generation in 2025 than in 2020. The Renewables on the Rise 2024 Report by Environment America found that Florida has seen incredible growth in solar energy in the last decade - having 4,382% more solar power in 2024 than in 2014. The price of solar in the state has declined 43% over the last decade, the number of electric vehicles and charging ports has increased over 5,000%, and solar jobs have grown, making Florida 2nd in the nation for solar jobs in 2023. Furthermore, Florida is now ranked 4th in the country for battery storage capacity, despite having zero capacity in 2018, and is the fifth state in the nation for biomass generation.
Florida is one of twelve states which has not implemented a renewable energy standard and is currently using a combination of state and local incentives, tax credits, and loan programs for certain renewable energy technologies. Net metering and interconnection rules are in place for investor-owned utilities and customer-cited generation facilities that qualify. Despite the lack of an RPS, Florida still offers incentives for solar adoption, including a 100% property tax exemption for residential solar systems and a 6% sales tax exemption on solar equipment.
Florida energy policy has typically favored utility companies, which have fought to prevent the direct sale of electricity from solar companies to their customers, as is permitted in 29 other states and territories. In the Spring of 2019 a lawsuit launched by eight kids called for stronger action to decarbonize the energy system in order to preserve their rights to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. It was rejected by an appeals court in May 2021 as a three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal upheld a 2020 decision by Leon County Circuit Judge Kevin Carroll to dismiss the case. The panel did not give a detailed explanation, but cited Carroll’s conclusion that the case involved “nonjusticiable political questions.”
In response to the case dismissal, four of the youth plaintiffs filed a petition in January 2022, noting that the state statutes required the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to set goals on renewable energy use, but they had not done so. The petition was signed by over 200 young Floridians, all under the age of 25. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried responded by announcing a proposal in April echoing much of the language in the petition, including a call on utilities to move toward 40% clean energy by 2030, 63% by 2040 and 100% by 2050.
However, this proposal, and other renewable goals in Florida, were effectively reversed in May 2024 when Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill removing references to “climate change” from state laws. Amy Green, the Florida correspondent for Inside Climate News, says of the bill “It’s important in a uniquely vulnerable state that, in just the last few years, has experienced record heat and the costliest hurricane in state history, Hurricane Ian, in 2022…the new law also means the state won’t be intentional about transitioning towards cleaner energy, things like wind and solar. For example, the measure bans offshore wind development within a mile of the coastlines.” Governor Ron DeSantis has said “We don’t want our policy driven by climate ideology.”
Despite DeSantis continually denying that climate change has any impact on hurricanes, recent studies have shown clear trends in storm intensification with global warming. While climate change does not necessarily increase the number of hurricanes, it does appear to make them more intense and destructive. Ocean warming increases hurricane wind speed and precipitation, and sea level rise intensifies storm surge impacts and damages. Read our HURRICANES page to learn more.
The 2024 hurricane season was a record breaking season for Florida, with three hurricanes making landfall on the west coast and all three causing storm surge flooding and historic water rises. Hurricane Helene, the ninth major hurricane in the gulf coast since 2017, caused widespread devastation as it moved along the southeast into southern Appalachia in September. Scientists reported that climate change produced over 50% more rainfall in Hurricane Helene, with record-hot waters in the Gulf. Two weeks later, Hurricane Milton made landfall, spawning 46 tornadoes and significant flooding. 2025 was a relief with no hurricanes making landfall.
Fourteen cities in Florida have 100% renewable energy goals. St. Petersburg has a comprehensive Integrated Sustainability Action Plan, Tallahassee has a Clean Energy Plan, and Tampa has a Climate Action and Equity Plan. However, the ability of these cities and counties to enforce their local climate plans was called into question when Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law banning local governments from implementing any carbon-reduction policies or pursuing any net-zero targets, paying fees or making contributions to any organizations with a net-zero policy, and procuring vehicles solely based on fuel source for net-zero goals (for example, Miami’s electric bus procurement program). As he signed the law on Earth Day, DeSantis claimed it will “safeguard Floridians by prohibiting all levels of government from adopting or enforcing these radical climate policies.” Local leaders are exploring ways to navigate these new restrictions, as the language is extremely broad and sweeping in its prohibitions, but there may be ways to still move forward with energy-efficiency programs or renewable energy investments as long as they aren’t framed around net-zero targets. The law, which DeSantis signed simultaneously with a law banning local governments from funding DEI programs, followed a Florida DOGE report criticizing 13 Florida cities and counties for their spending on climate objectives.
Florida artists and writers like Lauren Groff, owner of The Lynx, an independent bookstore in Gainesville highlighting banned books, are using their art to address climate change in the state. As Groff says, “it’s almost this collective hypnosis where we all have agreed that if we don’t talk about it constantly, it doesn’t actually exist. If we avert our eyes, it won’t be happening because we’re not looking at it… My only talent is as a writer. That’s the only thing I can do. So now I feel as though I am being immoral if I am not addressing it somehow in my work.” Groff launched the Climate Visionaries Artists’ Project with Greenpeace which includes pieces by authors including R.O. Kwon, Camille T. Dungy, Jenny Offill, Dorothea Lasky and Ada Limón.
Yoca Arditi-Rocha, chief executive officer of the Florida-based nonprofit CLEO Institute, which lost an EPA Grant after the funding was cut by the Trump administration, recently spoke to Inside Climate News about their organization’s work to fill the vacuum in an extremely hostile state and federal environment. As Arditi-Rocha said, “When governance pulls back protections and doubles down on pollution, that doesn’t stay neutral. It is a choice about whose lives, health and futures matter most, and that is at the heart of the environmental justice movement… In Florida, where we have a huge diaspora of many communities, particularly Latino communities from all over Latin America, Black and brown communities tend to be the most vulnerable and at the forefront of the environmental justice issue that we’re facing in Florida.”
CREDIT: WLRN Public Television and Radio
