Climate Action Recommendations

A Blueprint for Addressing Climate Change at the Municipal Level

City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 2018 PHOTO CREDITS

Introductory pages: Duncan McCall: 12th Avenue trees Duncan McCall: Live oaks on shoreline City of Pensacola: Aerial view of downtown featuring Plaza DeLuna and Palafox

Duncan McCall: Thiesen Building, downtown Pensacola, p 3 Duncan McCall: Ferdinand Plaza, downtown Pensacola, p 4 Google: Imagery ©2018 DigitalGlobe, p 7 Bruce Graner, Pensacola News Journal: Rescue of flood victims in Pensacola after historic rainfall—April 30, 2014, p 10 Elaine Sargent: Pensacola City Hall viewed from Maritime Park, p 13 Carrie Stevenson: Saufley Solar Field, p 14 Carrie Stevenson: Seawall along Bayfront Parkway, p 16 Elaine Sargent: Shade for pedestrians on South Palafox, p 17

City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 2018 Climate Action Recommendations A Blueprint for Addressing Climate Change at the Municipal Level

Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force City of Pensacola 2018

TASK FORCE MEMBERS

Elaine Sargent Chairman 350 Pensacola

Laurie Murphy Vice Chairman Emerald Coastkeeper

Dr. Haris Alibaši´c University of West Florida

Cynthia Cannon, AICP Santa Rosa County

Carrie Stevenson Escambia County

Tim Haag Emerald Coast Utilities Authority

Mark Gibson NAS Pensacola

Advisors: Dr. Wade Jeffrey University of West Florida

Christy Johnson, AICP Florida Department of Transportation City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 2018 Table of Contents

Introduction...... 1

Task Force Goals and Objectives...... 1

The Climate Change Threats to Northwest Florida and the City of Pensacola...... 2

A Blueprint for Addressing Climate Change at the Municipal Level...... 2

Planning for Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Mitigation...... 3

Planning for Resilience and Climate Change Adaptation...... 5

Areas of Emphasis for Climate Preparedness...... 6 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Goals...... 6 Transportation...... 7 Built Environment...... 8 Emergency Planning...... 10 Local Utilities ...... 11 Public Health...... 12 Outreach...... 13 Economic Development and Resilience...... 14

Task Force Findings and Recommendations...... 15

Addendum...... 15

Appendix...... 16

Other Resources...... 17 City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 2018 Introduction

he imperative for climate adaptation and mitigation planning stems Tfrom overwhelming evidence of climate change and the effects on coastal cities and regions. Researchers and scientists point to the changing climate as a direct result of human activities with devastating consequences for communities around the world. The climate-related threats include intense rain and flood events, sea level rise, droughts, and heat waves. Addressing climate change is imperative for communities to pursue and is based on unique characteristics of communities and local governments and threats they are facing.

The City of Pensacola and its regional partners, including counties and other local governments, are pursuing an aggressive and overarching climate-planning objective to address underlying climate change threats. The planning process included an appointment of the Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force. The report produced by the Task Force provides a general outline of the direction for the City of Pensacola and the region to undertake specific actions to counter threats and impacts of climate change and extreme weather.

Task Force Goals and Objectives

The goals and objectives of the Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force shall include, and are not limited to:

■■ Advance adaptation and mitigation strategies to enhance the City’s and regional resilience and preparedness for withstanding the likely adverse effects of climate change, including flooding resulting from heavy precipitation, rising sea levels, intense hurricanes, heat waves, and other extreme weather events.

■■ Promote a program of education, incentives, and public outreach to encourage residents, business owners, governments, and organizations to participate in the Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Plan.

■■ Generate suggestions to obtain federal and state grants, investments in energy efficiency and other financial resources to offset program costs. Measures may include initiatives to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within government operations and incentives for homeowners, businesses and organizations to save energy, reduce costs and decrease GHG emissions.

2018 Climate Action Recommendations City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 1 The Climate Change Threats A Blueprint for Addressing to Northwest Florida and Climate Change at the City of Pensacola the Municipal Level

Climate change is a driving force in Local governments are typically the first Florida’s growing weather extremes. responders when an extreme weather Florida is becoming hotter and more event affects their communities. Coastal humid (Climate Central, 2016, July 13). communities in particular have long Northwest Florida is threatened by sea dealt with the aftermath of disastrous level rise, record-breaking heat indexes, hurricanes and floods, with devastating increasing frequency and duration of consequences to local economies. extreme heat and drought, heavier rain, Continuing and expanding the efforts wildfires, inland and coastal flooding, to be better prepared to proactively storm surges exacerbated by stronger address these events will result in a hurricanes, and decreasing freshwater highly resilient community. availability (Climate Central and ICF International 2015) (Carter et al. , p. 397).

These risks threaten natural and built environments, the economy, and human health. Our region has already been affected by the kind of economic and social disruptions that extreme heat, heavy rain, and flooding can create. As noted in the Climate Central report and projections, Pensacola faces several risks associated with global warming, including sea level rise, multiplying extreme flood risk in the Pensacola region (Strauss et al. 2014, p. 51).

Historical water level records from Pensacola, Florida have established a representative long-term historical SLR trend of 0.73 ft/century (source: NOAA Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services).

2018 Climate Action Recommendations City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 2 Planning for Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Mitigation

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have undeniably been affecting the climate. The reduction of GHG emissions can decrease the extent and severity of climate change. Remaining at the status quo or increasing GHG emissions will escalate changes in climate. Climate change mitigation includes actions to decrease GHG emissions, reducing the ultimate magnitude of climate change. Some of these actions also have the potential to contribute to cost savings, green jobs, and local economic development. The City of Pensacola and surrounding area can take actions to assess energy use and GHG emissions to achieve the carbon footprint reductions.

The recommendations provide a blueprint for moving forward.

■■ Adopt a pledge to reduce the GHG emissions and join and actively participate in programs that provide planning tools such as: The Northwest Florida Clean Cities Coalition, Transformative Actions Program (TAP), Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE), United States Geological Survey (USGS) Sea-level Rise Simulation and Inundation Models, USGS Wetland Change Models, USGS Surface Elevation and Shoreline Erosion Models, and the Gulf Tools for Resilience Exploration Engine (Gulf TREE) through Northern Gulf of Mexico Sentinel Site Cooperative.

2018 Climate Action Recommendations City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 3 ■■ The mayor should join the Mayors ■■ Complete an inventory of city-wide GHG Climate Protection Agreement in emissions and prepare a climate adaptation solidarity with other cities in Florida. plan, as have many municipalities and Joining the Climate Protection counties around the state. Agreement will support a mitigation ■■ Incorporate language about climate change initiative to reduce future impacts in updated comprehensive plans, and pass of climate change through pledge local laws or codes that uphold those values. reductions in GHG emissions. ■■ Include the following sectors: ■■ Join the International Council for Local transportation, water resources/ Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)—Local utilities, natural resources, agriculture, Governments for Sustainability. ICLEI and disaster risk as part of the climate provides guidance for local climate action, change planning process. including ClearPath™—“an online software platform for completing greenhouse gas ■■ Reduce GHG emissions from municipal inventories, forecasts, climate action facilities and operations, including plans, and monitoring at the community- increasing energy efficiency and wide or government-operations scales.” conservation measures. In addition to (icleiusa.org/clearpath/) reducing negative environmental impact, these efforts may provide for cost ■■ Commit to meet a 30% renewable avoidance and savings. energy target by 2030 for city-owned facilities and operations, with a goal ■■ Install or purchase renewable energy, of 100% renewable by 2040. such as solar panels or other renewable power on municipal buildings, and ■■ Support and encourage energy incorporate LEED design. efficiency efforts, including the ENERGY STAR® labeling program ■■ Educate the public about the changing and Leadership in Energy and climate, and involve and engage local Environmental Design™ (LEED). citizens and volunteers in the processes of adaptation and mitigation. Encourage and ■■ Encourage the start of a special incentivize local businesses and residents adaptation action area group similar to reduce their energy consumption. to the Southeast Florida Regional Compact. This group could be called ■■ Support regional and statewide policies to the Northwest Florida Regional promote and develop renewable energy Compact and would study the systems, net-metering, and installation of outcome of adaptation strategies. solar and geothermal projects.

2018 Climate Action Recommendations City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 4 ■■ Consider current and subsequent updates Planning for to sea level rise (SLR) projections to inventory and map municipal Resilience and infrastructure that may be vulnerable Climate Change to climate change, and make plans and budget to replace, move or harden, or add Adaptation supportive infrastructure at appropriate times as those models indicate. The City of Pensacola has the opportunity ■■ Utilize local authority to protect open and responsibility to start planning to space, wetlands, and riparian buffers ensure the community is resilient to to increase resilience to extreme climate change. The first course of action weather events. is to better understand what changes are likely at the local (and regional) level and ■■ Become an active participant on to continue to make sure to prepare for the policy board of the Pensacola these changes. Climate change adaptation and Perdido Bay’s Estuary Program; refers to the actions organizations adopt encourage climate resilience strategies and implement to reduce the impacts in addition to water quality management of the climate changes that either have and improvement. already occurred or will inevitably occur. ■■ Incorporate Better Site Design, Low Resilience is the capacity of communities Impact Development (LID) and green and organizations to withstand stress and infrastructure principles into local catastrophe, and to recover and adapt codes and planning decisions to successfully in the face of threats or disaster. increase resilience of streams, bayous Here are some of the initiatives that and floodplains to heavy precipitation the City of Pensacola can undertake to events. Protect the natural riparian increase the community’s resilience to (natural shoreline) zones of these water climate change impacts. bodies and incentivize restoration of living shorelines instead of hardening (stone, wood and concrete seawalls). ■■ Develop emergency management plans and Utilize Escambia County’s LID Reference Federal Emergency Management Agency Manual and create incentives for its use (FEMA) all-hazard mitigation plans that within the City and region. include climate change projections and ■■ Use a watershed-level rather than site- adaptation strategies, and participate in the level approach to manage stormwater National Flood Insurance Program as well runoff and flooding. Wide-scale as FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS). watershed management can reduce The City of Pensacola is currently ranked impacts of flooding from stormwater 7 out of 10 on the FEMA CRS scale, resulting downstream through the use of better in a 15% annual discount in flood insurance urban planning and design principles for all insured properties. Surrounding including a multi-jurisdictional approach. communities have reached levels 5 (Pensacola Beach, Santa Rosa County) and 6 ■■ Encourage higher density development (Escambia County). The City should continue where appropriate as an urban making a concerted effort to improve its stormwater best-management practice. CRS rating. Acting on the suggestions More compact development patterns made in this report would contribute generate less stormwater runoff overall significantly to improving this rating. than low-density development.

2018 Climate Action Recommendations City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 5 Areas of Emphasis Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Climate Reduction Goals

Preparedness Transportation Comprehensive Plan Built Environment Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Element Emergency Planning Goal: Achieve a sustainable, climate resilient community by promoting Local Utilities energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction strategies; protecting and Public Health adapting public infrastructure, services, natural systems and resources from Outreach climate change impacts; and continuing to coordinate and communicate locally Economic Development and regionally to monitor and address the changing needs and conditions and Resilience of the community.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Goals

Objective: Mitigate the causes of climate change while providing clean energy solutions and a more energy efficient way of life for residents, business interests, and visitors.

Policy Recommendations: ■■ The City of Pensacola should plan ■■ The City of Pensacola shall mitigate its for and facilitate the development of contribution to global climate change by infrastructure that provides public reducing municipal operations greenhouse access to alternative fuels and electric gas emissions to 30% by 2030, based on vehicle charging stations by 2025. the data from the City’s inventory of GHG Actions should include: emissions (see inventory recommendation, • Preparing for deployment and optimal page 4). The long-term goal shall be zero distribution of a regional system GHG emissions. The City will continue to • Negotiating inter-local agreements regularly monitor and track the progress of with County, State, and private programs and initiatives that contribute to entities to share existing and the final reaching of these goals. proposed infrastructure ■■ The City of Pensacola shall encourage • Incentivizing and improving research for increasing the proportion processes and programs for of electricity generated by alternative installation of alternative fuel and renewable energy sources within the and electric vehicle charging City, such as solar, wind, geothermal and infrastructure (including city- ocean energy technologies. owned parking lots and buildings)

2018 Climate Action Recommendations City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 6 Transportation

Objective: Advance transportation and land-use choices that reduce fossil fuel use and vehicle miles traveled; improve the mobility of people, goods, and services; provide a diverse, efficient and equitable choice of transportation options; and increase the City’s resilience to the impacts of climate change.

Policy Recommendations: ■■ The City of Pensacola shall continue to seek to diversify fuel options for public transit ■■ The City of Pensacola shall continue and fleet vehicles, expand infrastructure to encourage mixed land uses which for charging electric and hybrid electric promote functional, walkable mixed-use vehicles and incentivize parking for development designs and projects by alternative fuel vehicles. Adopt a policy providing flexibility in development that discourages expansion of roadways review and requirements for these that add more lanes to grow capacity. projects, revising the zoning and land Focus on the maintenance and the development codes to support such improvements of “vital streets” or existing projects, and promoting the adoption of roads where appropriate. Evaluate land development codes that support the adoption of a complete streets and establish sustainable development concept, looking at street design from a patterns, especially in areas identified pedestrian/biking perspective as well as as high risk to sea level rise. Discourage the importance of traffic calming. Any and/or prevent development in new road project would need to meet flood zones and areas near wetlands the following criterion before approval: and coastal zones. Reduce future Roadway will serve as a connector between development in areas prone to flooding. areas to reduce driving miles, consequently Preserve and grow mixed-use and decreasing carbon footprint and emissions. dense development neighborhoods in low hazard (non-historically flooded) ■■ The City of Pensacola shall review and areas, making essential services support new city codes that help to create and businesses accessible through more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly multimodal means of transportation. infrastructure for our communities.

2018 Climate Action Recommendations City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 7 Built Environment

Objective: Improve the climate resilience and energy-efficiency of new and existing buildings and public infrastructure, and develop adaptation strategies for areas vulnerable to climate change-related impacts.

Policy and Initiative Recommendations: ■■ Develop permeable surfaces and green The City of Pensacola shall encourage incentives for residents and businesses greener, more efficient and climate resilient throughout the City of Pensacola. construction practices. Encourage stormwater fee reduction based on beneficial pervious surface ■■ Build all new construction of city or area and development incentives during public facilities to LEED standards. the process of applying for development ■■ Utilize national guidelines and performance permits for zoning upgrades. Explore benchmarks for sustainable land design, grant opportunities to provide direct construction and maintenance practices, funding to property owners and/or as developed by The Sustainable Sites community groups for implementing Initiative™ (SITES). a range of green infrastructure ■■ Reevaluate the base finish floor elevation projects and practices. Develop a standards concerning projected sea level rebate program or provide installation rise scenarios and flooding potential. financing to provide funding, tax credits or reimbursements to property owners ■■ Install solar panels on City buildings. who install specific practices, and ■■ Use ENERGY STAR rated appliances and promote an awards and recognition HVAC equipment within City buildings. program that would provide marketing ■■ Incorporate building design specifications opportunities and public outreach for city-wide for commercial and residential exemplary projects. This may include developments to increase resistance to financial incentives. impacts from more intense storm events. ■■ Encourage all building/construction Policy Recommendations: personnel to have National Pollutant ■■ Work cooperatively to review and Discharge Elimination System re-evaluate current zoning codes, (NPDES) training and erosion/ regulations and policies according sediment control training. to sustainable community ■■ Encourage sustainable practices for site development practices, such design, construction and maintenance. as those outlined in the criteria These regulations help reduce urban recommended by the United States runoff and mitigate the effect of new Green Building Council’s Leadership development, redevelopment, or in Energy and Environmental infill development on the existing Design for Neighborhood drainage system. Develop a new unified Development (LEED-ND) Stormwater Building Code. The new certification, or by application of code would contain requirements to a national rating system for local protect the City’s drainage system during governments, such as the STAR construction, as well as post-construction Community Index™ (STAR), and stormwater management requirements. NPDES stormwater permit.

2018 Climate Action Recommendations City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 8 ■■ Identify areas of frequent “nuisance Policy Recommendation: flooding” and create a public Assess and quantify the multiple database for future reference, which environmental, social, and economic will disincentivize construction in benefits of green infrastructure, as trees, historically and newly flooded area. forests, wetlands, and waterways provide ■■ Create an Inland Flooding Adaptation natural protection and increase resilience Action Area. by improving air quality, providing shade, reducing heat, storing surface water and ■■ Create a mechanism for transfer of retaining stormwater runoff through ownership for properties in high green stormwater initiatives. Furthermore, hazard areas to create green space conservation and expansion of green and mitigate flood risks. infrastructure decisions should include ■■ Limit public expenditures in coastal measurements of meeting the GHG mitigation high hazard areas. targets, public health, and safety goals, and climate change adaptation priorities. ■■ Reduce development density in high flood zones/coastal high hazard areas. ■■ The City of Pensacola shall utilize the City Tree Ordinance fund to maximize the benefits of trees throughout the Policy Recommendation: community to absorb carbon dioxide, The City of Pensacola shall continue to rebuild urban riparian zones, provide review policies and promote programs passive cooling for buildings, and provide which advance GHG reduction and shade for more walkable streets. energy conservation strategies; promote ■■ The City of Pensacola shall continue to compact, transit-oriented, pedestrian- maintain annual certification as a Tree City friendly development; further green USA Community in partnership with the construction practices and the design Florida Forest Service and the Arbor Day of climate-sensitive and energy Foundation. Tree City USA designation efficient buildings; encourage cluster demonstrates the commitment of the city development in order to retain or create in protecting, conserving, and managing native vegetative communities; and trees on the city-owned property to address the resilience and survivability ensure that the benefits of healthy, native, of buildings and infrastructure to rising urban forests and trees are fully utilized. sea levels, tropical storms, storm surge, ■■ The City of Pensacola shall partner with and other climate change impacts, other area organizations by joining thoroughly evaluate and re-evaluate the Six Rivers Cooperative Invasive coastal land use. Species Management Area (CISMA) as a partner-member. The Six Rivers CISMA Partnership is comprised of local, private, Policy Recommendation: and public partners who work together to The City of Pensacola shall evaluate control invasive species in the NW Florida the costs and benefits of adaptation region. The City of Pensacola has many alternatives in the location and design wetlands and stormwater treatment areas of new infrastructure as well as the that are predominantly comprised of fortification or retrofit of existing invasive species. Controlling these species infrastructure. followed by the establishment of native species will improve the effectiveness of stormwater management in wetlands.

2018 Climate Action Recommendations City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 9 Emergency Planning

Objective: Ensure exceptional planning and coordinated emergency preparedness and post-disaster management in the context of climate change.

Policy and Initiative Recommendations: ■■ The City of Pensacola shall work to encourage dialogue between residents, ■■ The City of Pensacola shall coordinate businesses, insurance companies and with Escambia County and regional other stakeholders, through public planning agencies to ensure adequate education campaigns and workshops to planning and response for emergency increase understanding regarding the management in the context of climate potential impacts of climate change on change by maximizing the resilience and our coastal communities and evaluate self-sufficiency of, and provide access to, the shared costs of action or inaction in public structures, schools, hospitals and human, ecological and financial terms. other shelters and critical facilities. ■■ The City of Pensacola shall work with ■■ The City of Pensacola shall develop plans the Florida Division of Emergency and monitor programs to address the Management and other agencies to impacts of climate change on households incorporate sea level rise and increasing and individuals especially vulnerable to storm surge impacts into the remapping health risks attributable to or exacerbated of potential hazard areas in coastal by rising temperatures, to include low- zones by 2020. Revised hazard area income families and the elderly. designations should better reflect the ■■ The City of Pensacola shall continue risks to communities associated with to communicate and collaboratively climate change and allow reevaluation plan with other local, regional, state of suitability for development or and federal agencies on emergency redevelopment in these areas. preparedness and disaster management ■■ The City of Pensacola shall cooperatively strategies. This includes incorporating develop model codes and policies to climate change impacts into updates of encourage post-hazard redevelopment local mitigation plans, water management in areas with less vulnerability to storm plans, shelter placement and capacity, surge, inundation, flooding, sea level rise review of significant traffic ways and and other impacts of climate change, and evacuation routes, and cost analysis of incentivize locally appropriate mitigation post-disaster redevelopment strategies. and adaptation strategies.

2018 Climate Action Recommendations City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 10 Local Utilities

Objective: Ensure the resilience of existing water resources, and water and wastewater infrastructure to the impacts of climate variability and change to protect water quality and quantity, and minimize the potential for flood damage and water shortages, while improving the energy efficiency of utilities and reducing carbon emissions and climate impacts. Work with energy provider utilities on mitigation of climate change by transitioning to zero GHG emission energy sources (e.g., renewable energy).

Policy Recommendations: ■■ The City of Pensacola shall support recurring and continued development of ■■ The City of Pensacola shall, by 2020, coordinate with local service providers to local integrated models and continuous ensure that water and wastewater service data collection, to help predict and track the impacts of sea level rise on planning and policy development consider groundwater levels, saltwater intrusion, methods for reducing utilities’ “carbon and drainage infrastructure through footprint,” including the best management enhanced development and application practices recommended in American of local aquifer and hydraulic models and Waterworks Association Florida Vision the use of down-scaled climate models. 2030, which have been recognized by utilities as appropriate utility responses to ■■ The City of Pensacola shall work in climate change. Also, additional means of coordination with local utilities to reducing demand for traditional energy maintain and advance infrastructure sources at the water and wastewater protection, utility location, and treatment facilities, such as through adaptation through infiltration and the production of energy through inflow program development to cogeneration systems, should be explored. reduce the flow of groundwater and stormwater to wastewater collection ■■ The City of Pensacola shall develop, and treatment facilities. implement and coordinate water conservation initiatives, in partnership with ■■ The City of Pensacola shall work with water and wastewater utilities, as part of utility services to investigate the long-term water supply planning, and seek feasibility of relocating above-ground the continued support of the Northwest utilities underground in areas vulnerable Florida Water Management District and to high winds and frequent power other agencies. Recognizing the fragility disruption due to storms. of our community’s sole water source, the ■■ The City of Pensacola shall send to Sand-and-Gravel Aquifer, the City should electric utilities that provide power to the strive to protect the groundwater resource area within the City of Pensacola a formal along with both existing and future public statement declaring the City’s desire to drinking water supply wells. The City receive electric energy from zero GHG should consider a uniform approach, in emission sources (e.g., renewable energy). conjunction with Escambia County, to The City shall also send a request to protection of the groundwater resource these utilities to transition to renewable and the drinking water supply by adoption energy sources, with a goal of zero GHG of the County’s Wellhead Protection Areas emissions. Furthermore, the City shall (WHPAs) and the applicable development request a long-term plan from these standards for those WHPAs. utilities for making this transition.

2018 Climate Action Recommendations City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 11 Public Health

Climate change influences public health in Florida through higher average temperatures and an increase of the frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme weather—heat waves, heavy rains, drought, tornadoes, hurricanes, and storm surge. The impacts to public health include an increase in aeroallergen-related asthma and other respiratory diseases, vector-borne and water-related diseases, heat-related deaths and illnesses, and mental health issues related to dealing with disasters such as hurricanes and flooding. Power grid/power outages and infrastructure failures due to severe weather compound the effects on public health. All communities are impacted, but the most vulnerable are the poor, the elderly, young children, the sick, households of color, and people with disabilities. (Luber, G. et al., 2014, pp. 221-233)

Objective: Prepare for and protect the public from adverse health impacts of climate change.

Policy Recommendations: ■■ The City of Pensacola shall work with ■■ The City of Pensacola and City other governmental agencies and the subcontractors shall follow Federal Escambia County Health Department guidelines and best practices to prevent to support enhanced surveillance of injuries, cognitive difficulties, and other mosquitos to mitigate vector-borne hazards related to working outside disease. Long-term and consistent in weather extremes such as high vector mosquito surveillance can temperature and humidity. The guidelines create a baseline to identify periods may require providing shade, rest, or with heightened risk. cooling to outdoor workers. The City shall ■■ The City of Pensacola shall partner with also encourage local businesses to follow the Escambia County Health Department, the recommendations. emergency management organizations ■■ The City of Pensacola shall increase the such as BRACE, and public utilities to resilience of critical infrastructure when prepare and protect the safety, health and appropriate to support human health well-being of the public in the event of a and well-being. hurricane or other severe weather event.

■■ The City of Pensacola shall work with ■■ The City of Pensacola shall partner with other governmental agencies and the Escambia County and the Escambia Escambia County Health Department to County Health Department to notify the support drinking water quality monitoring public of heat advisories, pollen alerts, and source water protection. and other climate-related health warnings.

2018 Climate Action Recommendations City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 12 Outreach

Objective: Increase opportunities in the community to learn about climate change, participate in decision-making, engage in a green economy, utilize green infrastructure, study health impacts, and reduce population vulnerability.

Policy Recommendations: ■■ The City of Pensacola shall partner with innovative construction projects to ■■ The City of Pensacola shall continue showcase the changes they incorporate in to engage stakeholders, regional, new construction to mitigate for flooding state and federal partners, academia, and other climate impacts. practitioners and climate scientists, in exchanging information, best practices, ■■ The City of Pensacola shall promote and policy solutions regarding local partnerships between local middle climate change impacts and mitigation and high school career and academic and adaptation strategies. academies to encourage student ■■ The City of Pensacola shall promote internships and learning opportunities to partnerships between local government develop and educate local talent in the agencies, universities, professionals and green jobs sector. practitioners, to foster an environment • Beulah Middle School for connecting scientific research and Pre-Engineering/STEM education with practical applications • Escambia High Engineering Academy that will contribute to the resilience and • Pine Forest High Home Builders adaptation within the built and natural Association of West Florida Green environments to the impacts of climate Construction Trades Academy change. Work with University of West • West Florida High School Academies Florida and University of Florida Institute of Civil Engineering & Architecture, Cox of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF Telecommunications, and Gulf Power IFAS) Extension faculty to promote • Washington High School climate education events. Marine Science Academy

2018 Climate Action Recommendations City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 13 Economic Development and Resilience

Objective: Strengthen the local economy through green job opportunities, expand renewable energy and the market for energy efficient products and services, and incentivize energy conservation and retrofits.

Policy Recommendations: ■■ The City of Pensacola shall seek to strengthen the local economy by ■■ The City of Pensacola shall encourage promoting green economic growth and the development of green industry green-collar work training programs in and business which diversify the local order to: create resilience; reduce reliance economy and contribute benefits towards on fossil-fuel-based economies; provide a a sustainable future. positive focus for economic development; ■■ The City of Pensacola shall continue advance the use of sustainable materials, to develop plans and programs in technologies and services; and encourage coordination with local municipalities, local jobs in sustainable businesses which power companies, and private partners offer a living wage and make it possible for to reduce GHG emissions and create regional climate change goals to be met. green job opportunities throughout the ■■ The City of Pensacola shall review codes community, by and regulations to enable and encourage • Expanding the market for energy eco-industrial development and business efficient products and services; practices in line with the concept of the • Supporting alternative and renewable circular economy. Specifically, businesses energy production through models and land development patterns innovative financing; and should be supported which promote by-product exchanges (so that one Promoting and incentivizing energy • company’s waste stream is another’s conservation retrofits. source of raw materials) as to more efficiently use resources (materials, water, energy) throughout society.

2018 Climate Action Recommendations City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 14 Task Force Findings and Recommendations

■■ Incorporate a Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Element into the City’s Comprehensive Plan (as opposed to updating each element of the Comp plan with climate adaptation and mitigation policies).

■■ Seek funding to develop a Climate Action Plan or Climate Resilience Plan.

■■ Complete an inventory of city-wide GHG emissions to begin the mitigation plan. The establishment of a baseline measurement of GHG emissions is a fundamental step in addressing climate change and the community's resilience. Addendum ■■ Conduct a Vulnerability Assessment and establish resilience strategies based on those findings. Utilize Community Concerns the existing Florida Department and Priorities of Economic Opportunity (FDEO) ■■ Develop Task Force priorities, for Vulnerability Assessment of Escambia example, clean energy solutions, to County, which includes detail related to start discussion with the community. the City of Pensacola. ■■ Gather community feedback on ■■ Reestablish and fund the City of the Task Force’s proposed climate Pensacola Office of Sustainability change policies and establish (or similar program) to implement the priorities based on that feedback. Climate Action Plan and to provide an annual review and assessment of ■■ Create and implement a community- climate adaptation and mitigation of wide survey (see Satellite Beach policies and strategies. report) and prioritize action areas based on resident feedback. ■■ Engage the Environmental Advisory Board (or appropriate entity) to work ■■ Create a page on the City website with City Council and city planning staff dedicated to climate resilience to ensure the city’s Land Development information. Code addresses mitigation and Find stakeholders' comments to adaptation policies. the Task Force draft report at: ■■ Pursue grant opportunities for City and www.cityofpensacola.com/ regional partners to develop climate 2900/Climate-Mitigation-and- adaptation programming. Adaptation-Task-F

2018 Climate Action Recommendations City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 15 Appendix

Resolution of the Pensacola City Council Fox, M. A., Nachman, K. E., Anderson, B., Creating a Climate Change Task Force: Lam, J., & Resnick, B. (2016). Meeting the Resolution No. 29-14. (2014, August 28). public health challenge of protecting private www.cityofpensacola.com/AgendaCenter/ wells: Proceedings and recommendations ViewFile/Agenda/_08282014-689 from an expert panel work-shop. Science of the Total Environment, 554, 113-118. Alibaši´c, H. (2018). Sustainability and Resilience Planning for Local Governments: Guenther, R., Balbus, J. (2014, December). The Quadruple Bottom Line Strategy. Primary Protection: Enhancing Health Care www.springer.com/us/book/978331972567 Resilience for a Changing Climate. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Alibaši´c, H. (2018). Leading Climate toolkit.climate.gov/image/662 Change at the Local Government Level. In Farazmand, A. (Ed.) Global Encyclopedia Local Governments for Sustainability. of Public Administration, Public Policy, ICLEI USA. icleiusa.org and Governance. Springer International Luber, G., K. Knowlton, J. Balbus, H. Publishing, AG, Cham. doi.org/10.1007/978- Frumkin, M. Hayden, J. Hess, M. McGeehin, 3-319-31816-5_3428-1 N. Sheats, L. Backer, C. B. Beard, K., L. Ebi, Brady, J. (2018, July 11). The High Cost of E. Maibach, R. S. Ostfeld, C. Wiedinmyer, Hot. Climate Central Research Report. E. Zielinski-Gutiérrez, and L. Ziska, (2014). www.climatecentral.org/news/report-the- Ch. 9: Human Health. Climate Change high-cost-of-hot-21879 Impacts in the United States: The Third National Climate Assessment, J. M. Carter, L. M., J. W. Jones, L. Berry, V. Burkett, Melillo, Terese (T.C.) Richmond, and G.W. J. F. Murley, J. Obeysekera, P. J. Schramm, Yohe, Eds., U.S. Global Change Research and D. Wear (2014). Ch. 17: Southeast and Program, pp 220-256. doi:10.7930/ the Caribbean. Climate Change Impacts J0PN93H5. in the United States: The Third National Climate Assessment, J. M. Melillo, Terese Malhotra, K., Baltrus, P., Zhang, S., McRoy, (T.C.) Richmond, and G. W. Yohe, Eds., U.S. L., Immergluck, L. C., & Rust, G. (2014). Global Change Research Program, pp 396- Geographic and racial variation in asthma 417. doi:10.7930/J0NP22CB. prevalence and emergency department use among Medicaid-enrolled children Climate Central and ICF International (2015). in 14 southern states. Journal of Asthma, States At Risk: America’s Preparedness 51(9), pp 913-921. Report Card: Florida Report. assets.statesatrisk.org/summaries/ Staletovich, J. (2016, July 13). Florida Florida_report.pdf tops nation in dangerous risk of heat and humidity, study finds. Miami Herald. www. Climate Central (2016, July 13). U.S. Faces miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/ Dramatic Rise in Extreme Heat, Humidity. article89216662.html www.climatecentral.org/news/sizzling- summers-20515 Strauss, B., C. Tebaldi, S. Kulp, S. Cutter, C. Emrich, D. Rizza, and D. Yawitz (2014). Florida Department of Economic Florida and the Surging Sea: A Vulnerability Opportunity (2016, July 23). Coastal Assessment With Projections for Sea Level Vulnerability Assessment: Escambia Rise and Coastal Flood Risk. Climate Central County, Florida. Research Report, pp 1-58.

2018 Climate Action Recommendations City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 16 Other Resources

American Institute of Architects commentary on climate change mitigation www.aia.org/resources/77941-the-architects-critical-role-in-climate-chan

C40 Progammes: Compact of Mayors. C40 Cities. www.c40.org/programmes/compact-of-mayors

Escambia Low Impact Design BMP Manual (2016)

myescambia.com/our-services/natural-resources-management/water-quality-land- management/low-impact-design

Workforce Education. Escambia County School District. ecsd-fl.schoolloop.com/career

Broward County Climate Action Plan—Local Strategy to Address Global Climate Change www.broward.org/NaturalResources/Documents/BrowardCAPReport2015_FINAL DRAFT_01252016.pdf

City of Punta Gorda Adaptation Plan www.cakex.org/sites/default/files/Punta Gorda.pdf

Community Resiliency in the City of Satellite Beach www.satellitebeach.org/Residents-Visitors/City Documents/City Sustainability Plan 5-3-2017.pdf

2018 Climate Action Recommendations City of Pensacola Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Task Force 17