According to Moody’s subsidiary Four Twenty Seven, a research firm that prices climate change risk, Manatee County has the highest climate risk score in the nation. On a city level, Bradenton has the 7th highest climate risk score in the country.
Underpinning these inherent risks to our economic foundations are exposures to more frequent and powerful storms, loss of our world-class beaches and coastal communities, and an increased number of days with excessive heat.
Our county officials have made efforts to address our exposures to the impacts of the climate crisis -- but it’s not enough. We need a comprehensive plan and implementation schedule to transition Manatee County to 100% clean, renewable energy. It’s time for our government leaders to address our risks; inspire regional, state and national levels of climate-focused advocacy; grow our economy; create local, family-sustaining jobs, and clean up our air and water.
Manatee Clean Energy Alliance is dedicated to Save Our Sand --a local Ready for 100 campaign to convince our county and city officials to pledge to be running on 100% renewable energy by 2035. The approach offers an opportunity to inform residents of all ages, ethnicities, religions, economic standing and political leanings about the impacts of climate change on our community and their lives. It also will provide an opportunity to interact with current business leaders and local entrepreneurs who will be critical to achieving our ultimate goal of eliminating hazardous levels of greenhouse gases as we transition to, and create, a green-based economy.
photo credit: Ann Caron [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]
