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TNC CEO Jennifer Morris speaks on a panel at the Aspen Ideas climate summit in Miami Beach.
Aspen Ideas Climate Summit TNC CEO Jennifer Morris (center) with Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava (left) and Amazon VP of Sustainability Kara Hurst (right) at the conference in Miami Beach. © Farris Bukhari/TNC

Stories in Florida

Climate Leadership in Action

Taking bold climate action to achieve carbon emissions goals to protect people and nature in Florida.

Florida’s Green Future: A Close Look at the Economic Benefits of Decarbonization in Florida

Florida has a bright future. A new comprehensive study made possible thanks to generous support from the Jane’s Trust Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, VoLo Foundation and Wells Fargo Foundation, describes how Florida can reach net zero emissions by 2050 while simultaneously growing the economy, creating jobs and reducing energy and transportation costs for Floridians.

Through rigorous analysis, we unveil a future where renewable energy and sustainable practices drive economic success. The Economic Benefits of Decarbonization in Florida report details how the state is uniquely positioned for a smooth transition to clean energy, offering exciting job opportunities with diverse skill requirements and potentially higher wages. The state's abundant sunshine makes it a solar energy powerhouse, and its existing electric infrastructure supports easy adoption of clean energy solutions. The transition to a decarbonized economy promises a state economy nearly 2% larger by 2050.

This report sheds light on the significant efforts already underway by both the public and private sectors toward achieving net zero emissions in Florida, outlining necessary investments across industries toward our 2050 goal. It highlights potential economic benefits, including a positive impact on Florida's Gross State Product (GSP), fostering a stronger economy. By understanding these factors, we can all play a role in shaping a sustainable and prosperous future for Florida.

Read the full report to learn more about how Florida can become a leader in clean energy and a thriving economic power.

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The Economic Benefits of Decarbonization Report

This report shows how decarbonization is powering Florida’s economy and invites you to be a part of this transformative journey.

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Addressing the root causes and impacts of climate change is critical to protecting the quality of life of all Floridians and the health of our lands and waters. It is also critical to the success of TNC's conservation work in Florida. Our state is ground zero for climate change and its impacts are increasingly more evident over time. Warming temperatures, sea-level rise, excess rainfall and changing drought conditions all have the potential to impact Florida's people and our natural environment.

City streets are completely covered with flood waters.
High Tide Flooding Florida is ground zero for climate change, as evidenced by street flooding during high tide. © Miami-Dade County
Urban streets with traffic are flooded as water runs over sidewalks.
Miami Street Flood The impacts of climate change in Florida's coastal communities are increasingly evident over time. © Wikimedia Commons
High Tide Flooding Florida is ground zero for climate change, as evidenced by street flooding during high tide. © Miami-Dade County
Miami Street Flood The impacts of climate change in Florida's coastal communities are increasingly evident over time. © Wikimedia Commons

To address the impacts of climate change, TNC in Florida has adopted a goal that Florida’s greenhouse gas emissions will be at 90% of the net-zero target by 2045. This relates to the goal that the U.S. will achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Because Florida is a worldwide tourist destination with tourism as a key economic driver, climate action in Florida has a broader significance that extends well beyond its borders.

Research has shown that most Floridians support an emissions reduction strategy, and this level of broad change requires leadership and bold climate action. TNC in Florida is taking action making a positive impact on emissions reduction.

What does meaningful climate action look like in Florida?

Engaging the Public

Informing Floridians about how climate action can make a positive difference in their lives is important to build support for new policies. These would reduce carbon emissions and protect people and nature from the effects of sea level rise, heat and extreme weather. We host a Women in Climate webinar series to promote discussion on a variety of climate-related topics facing Floridians. The webinars feature elected federal, state and local officials, journalists, scientists, executives and businesspeople discussing strategies to address climate change and its impacts.

Women in Climate (3:47) TNC's chief scientist Katherine Hayhoe and other climate leaders explain how to effectively talk to family, friends and neighbors about climate change, and why climate action is important.

TNC’s CEO Jennifer Morris participated with Florida executive director Temperince Morgan in the Aspen Ideas Conference in Miami Beach. The conference brought together policymakers, scientific experts, corporate leaders, inventors and innovators, artists, youth leaders and engaged members of the public. The conference focused on the importance of climate change adaptation and mitigation, and how to scale up efforts to meet the urgency of the climate crisis.

TNC executive director with Ximena Caminos and TNC CEO Jennifer Morris
Climate Leaders in Miami From left: TNC Florida executive director Temperince Morgan. ReefLine founder Ximena Caminos, TNC CEO Jennifer Morris, © 2022 Rodrigo Gaya Villar/Gayaman Visual Studio, LLC

How can we broaden our influence to promote climate action?

Building Partnership

TNC’s climate action work in Florida is focused on building partnerships with local governments, regional climate collaboratives and the private sector to amplify the impact of our climate action. TNC participates on steering and technical committees of the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, the East Central Florida Regional Resilience Collaborative and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. We have provided funding and technical assistance to support specific projects such as conducting a regional greenhouse gas inventory.

Our Leadership on Florida Solar For All

The Nature Conservancy in Florida Climate Team is proud to be a lead on Florida Solar for All (FSFA). TNC helped found this coalition. Through FSFA, TNC and our partners Solar United Neighbors (SUN) and the Solar Energy Load Fund (SELF) together secured a $156.1 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to expand solar access to low income households across the state. This program will reduce household energy burdens and greenhouse gas emissions while promoting energy equity and inclusive workforce development in the clean energy economy. The FSFA grant also represents the largest-ever investment in residential solar in Florida. 

Stakeholder engagement and insights from local government, community-based organizations and other community leaders will be critical to ensuring an enduring, effective FSFA program. An official Florida Solar For All website is forthcoming. In the meantime, join our listserv to receive program updates by visting this website hosted by our FSFA partner, SELF. Learn more and sign up to receive updates at Solar For All.

Our Partnership with SolSmart

TNC is engaging our vast network of climate collaboratives, city administrators, community leaders and nonprofit partners to accelerate emissions reduction and renewable energy deployment. This role is highlighted in our partnership with SolSmart and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.

SolSmart is a national program that helps municipalities and regional organizations become solar energy leaders by reducing solar costs and encouraging solar energy growth. As a SolSmart Engagement Partner, TNC is helping local leaders in Florida, Georgia and Alabama learn about the benefits of and participate in SolSmart’s no-cost technical assistance and recognition program. Through this program, communities can incorporate national best practices for expanding inclusive solar energy adoption and receive recognition for their solar-friendly policies. As part of our engagement and outreach work, TNC is especially prioritizing communities that have been identified by the federal Council on Environmental Quality as disadvantaged, recognizing that these communities often face higher energy and pollution burdens and historic barriers to clean energy access.

The Florida Collaborative Coordinators Forum and Our Shared Vision for Equitable, Clean Energy

TNC also facilitates the Florida Collaborative Coordinators Forum where regional climate collaboratives share best practices for implementing climate action in their respective regions. In partnership with private corporations as well as our government partners, we are working towards a future that ensures all Floridians have equitable access to reliable and clean energy. We are taking action in our workplaces by deploying renewable energy, utilizing electric vehicles and installing charging stations at our preserves.

A yellow Rivian truck at Disney Wilderness Preserve is surrounded by TNC staff with smiles.
Electric vehicle We are utilizing electric vehicles and installing charging stations at our preserves. © Roberto Gonzalez
Woman installing solar panels.
Solar Panel Installation Encouraging the transition to renewable energy is a focus of our policy efforts. © Eric Aldrich/TNC
Electric vehicle We are utilizing electric vehicles and installing charging stations at our preserves. © Roberto Gonzalez
Solar Panel Installation Encouraging the transition to renewable energy is a focus of our policy efforts. © Eric Aldrich/TNC

How will Florida achieve its ambitious carbon-reduction goals?

Implementing Policy

Achieving net zero by 2050 requires adoption of federal, state and local policies to encourage the transition to renewable energy and electric vehicles, and the adoption of nature-based solutions that sequester carbon in agriculture, forestry and marine ecosystems. At the federal level, TNC supported passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, both of which provide incentives for deployment of clean energy. The Inflation Reduction Act is designed to reduce carbon emissions by 40% in 2030 vs. 2005 levels, primarily by increasing incentives for clean energy and electric vehicles.

Florida’s economy will significantly benefit from the incentives and grants provided by the Inflation Reduction Act. A study commissioned by TNC estimates that the new law will result in $15.4 billion of investment in Florida’s economy, supporting 22,000 jobs per year for the next ten years. This funding will jumpstart the effort to reduce carbon emissions by providing tax incentives and grant funding to individuals, local and state governments and local communities to deploy renewable energy and electric vehicles.  

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Engaging the public by continuing the climate conversation, partnering collaboratively and implementing policies that support clean energy and emissions reduction will help us achieve our climate goals and help protect people and nature in Florida.