Florida biodiversity suffering from climate change consequences.

Florida’s wildlife is without a doubt impacted by rising sea levels, warmer temperatures on land and in water, and changes in seasonal rainfall patterns and storm events as the climate changes. Species distributions, life cycles, and interactions between predators and preys will shift in response to accelerating climate change.

Climate change is also expected to increase dissolved carbon dioxide concentrations in the water, making seawater more acidic. This change will likely cause harm to Florida’s coral reefs and the ability for marine organisms to build their shells.

While some species will thrive in a changing climate, others could decline to the point of becoming endangered.

Florida’s Everglades is undoubtedly suffering from climate change consequences.  After being drained and developed, polluted with fertilizers, and overrun by invasive species, it’s no secret that today the vast wetland is on life support.

A recently released report, however, underscores the severity of the situation. The Everglades’ conservation outlook is “critical,” according to a study out this month from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with climate change, altered water flow, and invasive species taking a major toll on an already-damaged environment.

Of 241 natural wonders assessed around the globe, from the Great Barrier Reef to the Smoky Mountains, only 17 — or 7 percent — were rated critical. The Glades was the only natural gem in the United States to earn that dire designation.

What solutions can organizations play in helping reverse this situation? Do organizations in Florida have a role to play to show good corporate citizenship?

If you represent or are directly or indirectly linked to the biodiversity industry in Florida, what solutions do you adopt and what actions to do implement to ensure the sustainability of your organization in this threatened industry? Join us in Miami in early 2020 for sustainability discussions regarding this important aspect for the Sunshine State.

CSE’s Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program, Advanced Edition 2020, takes over Florida January 16-17, 2020 to help sustainability professionals rise to any occasion. This challenging two-day training offered by Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) aims to give you all the latest tools and resources required to implement or upscale existing sustainability initiatives taking place in your organization.