Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has extended the deadline for expert comment on the second-order draft of the Working Group I contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). The U.S. Global Change Research Program-in collaboration with the U.S. State Department-has adjusted its schedule for the U.S. Government Review in kind. USGCRP will now accept comments via its Review and Comment System until 11:59 p.m. ET, Wednesday, May 6, 2020.

General information such as the outline, development milestones, and deadlines can be found at the USGCRP Open Notices page; more detailed information-i.e., background, instructions, supplementary materials, and the draft report itself (including the first draft of the Summary for Policymakers)-can be found on the USGCRP Review and Comment System. You must register to access the dedicated landing page, agreeing to the posted terms before being granted access. This is an Open Call. Comments are solicited from the U.S. scientific expert community and interested stakeholders. All comments must be input via the USGCRP Review and Comment System by 11:59 p.m. ET, Wednesday, May 6, 2020, if they are to be considered by the Federal expert panel tasked with preparing the U.S. transmittal to IPCC.

In March, the Florida Public Service Commission unanimously approved the Florida Power & Light Co. (FPL) SolarTogether program which will ensure the development of 1,490 MW of solar over the next two years making it the largest community solar program in the U.S. The program will help to propel the Sunshine State into a leadership position on solar development and reduce dependence on fossil fuels that contribute to climate change. This voluntary solar program puts participants in full control of their level of commitment. Customers can offset up to 100% of their electricity use with emissions-free solar. Read article.

In other solar news, an annual assessment of solar industry employment at the national, state, and local level shows Florida leading in solar jobs. The National Solar Jobs Census 2019 indicates that as of 2019, America has nearly 250,000 solar workers in all 50 states.

Floridians believe climate change is real and are concerned about its impact on future generations in the state, according to the second Florida Climate Resilience Survey, conducted by the Florida Atlantic University Center for Environmental Studies (CES) in FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, and the Business and Economics Polling Initiative (BEPI) in FAU's College of Business. This quarterly statewide survey shows that 86 percent of Floridians believe climate change is happening, including 81 percent of Republicans, 91 percent of Democrats and 87 percent of Independents.

	Carolina Maran, SFWMD District Resiliency Officer

South Florida Water Management District has named its first District Resiliency Officer, Carolina Maran, Ph.D., P.E. Dr. Maran is supporting a large amount of technical work already being done to identify and address limitations to manage water resources in our region. Some include implementing a Flood Protection Level of Service Program; exploring options to increase operations efficiency and hardening infrastructure; supporting the development of alternative water supply projects; monitoring the saltwater interface, and collaborating with local, state Tribal and federal stakeholders and Academia to advance resiliency research and adaptation.

Last month, the SFWMD Governing Board endorsed the USACE request to partner with SFWMD in initiating the Central and Southern Florida Flood Resiliency Study, which will identify and prioritize critical infrastructure improvements to reduce flood risks, enhance water management operations, and protect our communities and natural resources. The Southeast Florida Regional Climate Compact has been a strong advocate for this Study and will be engaging in the development of its next steps. To view the CS&F study presentation, click here.

(Source: Science World) Half of the world's beaches could disappear by the end of the century due to coastal erosion, according to a new study led by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC). Erosion is a major problem facing sandy beaches that will worsen with the rising sea levels brought about by climate change. According to the study, published today in Nature Climate Change, effective climate action could prevent 40% of that erosion. Sandy beaches cover more than 30% of the world's coastlines. They are popular recreational spots for people and they provide important habitats for wildlife. They also serve as natural buffer zones that protect the coastline and backshore coastal ecosystems from waves, surges and marine flooding. Their role as shock absorbers will become more important with the rising sea levels and more intense storms expected with climate change. Read article.

The Southeast Florida Regional Compact has updated its Regional Climate Action Plan (RCAP), a comprehensive set of curated resources to support local governments, agencies, regional councils, regional resource management districts, and other local planners and practitioners in advancing the recommendations outlined in the Compact's Regional Climate Action Plan 2.0. First developed in 2012 and updated in 2017, the RCAP offers a framework for coordinated regional action, recognizing that decisions on timing and approach are best determined by each local government. This set of resources is the next step in the evolution of RCAP 2.0's development and is intended to further bolster and build the capacity of our region to act upon the outlined recommendations. Covering nearly all 142 RCAP recommendations and organized by RCAP topic area -- from Energy and Fuel and Natural Systems to Water and Sustainable Communities and Transportation -- the resources offer vetted local case studies, example policy, data tools, and other guides to support localities designing and implementing emissions reduction and resilience-building activities and policies.

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies and partners seek nominations for the Climate Adaptation Leadership Awards, which recognize exemplary leadership to reduce impacts and advance adaptation of the nation's vital natural resources in a changing world. Apply here by May 15. More information..

(Source Climate Outreach) Having conversations about climate change in our daily lives plays a huge role in creating social change. People take cues about what's important from what family, friends, colleagues and neighbors are talking about. That's why Climate Outreach has produced an evidence-based, practical guide to help make those conversations easier and more meaningful - and to come out of them feeling inspired and connected. Talking Climate Handbook is the result of a collaboration with Climate-KIC. It is based in part on a citizen science project with over 550 individuals from over 50 countries that took place last summer. Download the handbook.

Consequences of urbanization and climate change on human and ecosystem health | April 16 | Webinar (10am ET)

Impacts of a Changing Climate on Wetland Ecosystems | April 27 | Webinar (Noon-1:15pm ET)

Climate Response: Costs and Financing | May 3 | Online Course offered by the Antioch Center for Climate Preparedness and Community Resilience

2020 Local Solutions: Easter Climate Preparedness Conference | May 11-12 | Portland, Maine

Science Translator, South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, Apply by June 5

Scientist, Sea Level Rise Impacts, Climate Central

Climate Scientist, Climate Central

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RWJF | Cities Taking Action to Address Health, Equity, and Climate Change | April 30, 2020

NatGeo | Enduring Impacts: Archaeology of Sustainability | April 22, 2020

NatGeo: Equity and the Natural World | April 22, 2020

RWJF | Cities Taking Action to Address Health, Equity, and Climate Change | April 30, 2020

Acevedo, M. A., Beaudrot, L., MeléndezAckerman, E. J., Tremblay, R. L., & Shefferson, R. (2020). Local extinction risk under climate change in a neotropical asymmetrically dispersed epiphyte. J Ecol,

Baldauf, M., Garlappi, L., Yannelis, C., & Scheinkman, J. (2020). Does Climate Change Affect Real Estate Prices? Only If You Believe In It. The Review of Financial Studies, 33(3), 1256-1295.

Edmunds,P.J., & Riegl, B.. (2020). Urgent need for coral demography in a world where corals are disappearing. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 635, 233-242.

Kramer, S.J., Kirtman, B.P., Zuidema, P., & Ngan, F.,. (2020). Subseasonal Variability of Elevated Dust Concentrations Over South Florida. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos.,

Liu, Q., Tan, Z. - M., Sun, J., Hou, Y., Fu, C., & Wu, Z. (2020). Changing rapid weather variability increases influenza epidemic risk in a warming climate. Environ. Res. Lett., 15(4).

Lyons, M. P., von Holle, B., Caffrey, M. A., , et al. (2020). Quantifying the impacts of future sea level rise on nesting sea turtles in the southeastern United States. Ecol Appl, , e02100.

Rashid, M. M., Sharma, A., & Johnson, F. (2020). Multi-model drought predictions using temporally aggregated climate indicators. Journal of Hydrology, 581, 124419.

Rasoulkhani, K., Mostafavi, A., Reyes, M. P., & Batouli, M. (2020). Resilience planning in hazards-humans-infrastructure nexus: A multi-agent simulation for exploratory assessment of coastal water supply infrastructure adaptation to sea-level rise. Environmental Modelling & Software, 125, 104636.

Steinmuller, H. E., Foster, T. E., Boudreau, P., Ross Hinkle,, & Chambers, L. G. (2020). Tipping Points in the Mangrove March: Characterization of Biogeochemical Cycling Along the MangroveSalt Marsh Ecotone. Ecosystems, 23, 417-434.

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Florida's Climate: Changes, Variations, & Impacts provides a thorough review of the current state of research on Florida's climate, including physical climate benchmarks; climate prediction, projection, and attribution; and the impacts of climate and climate change on the people and natural resources in the state. The book is available for purchase in paperback and Kindle format at Amazon.com.

Individual chapters may be accessed on the FCI website.

The Florida Climate Institute (FCI) is a multi-disciplinary network of national and international research and public organizations, scientists, and individuals concerned with achieving a better understanding of climate variability and change.     

Member Universities