In a testimony conveyed before a subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Broward County commissioner Kristin Jacobs discussed the need to take action with regard to climate change.

Jacobs, who is also a member of President Barack Obama's task force on climate change, urged the Senate panel on Tuesday to pay more attention to this concern. Her testimony was aimed at convincing the panel of the urgency of this matter, which might be the most pressing problem faced by Florida today.

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She said the state of Florida, especially South Florida, is extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate.

"Our extensive coastline, low land elevations, flat topography and unique geology combine to put South Florida communities on the front line for combating climate impacts," she explained.

Jacobs enumberated the environmental problems associated with climate change. It includes extensive flooding during extreme high-tide, neighborhoods inundated by seawater that pours over sea walls and eventually pushes through storm drains that rises through the ground.

As a response to these devastating losses, Jacobs shared that affected communities joined forces to create the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact.

According to the commissioner, the organization directed projects to lessen greenhouse gases and operated to incorporate climate change considerations into county plans.

In addition, the group is striving to develop the use of coral reefs, mangroves, dunes, and other living shoreline projects.

Jacobs' pleas, however, became subject of another political debate during the hearing. Republican senators criticized additional protocols as taxing.

To defend Jacobs' appeal, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse pointed out that, "Inaction on climate change is not an option for Florida."

"The longer the wait for action, the higher the cost," the Rhode Island Democrat and subcommittee chairman added.

Whitehouse further claims that, "Climate change is stacking the deck against our oceans, our fisheries and our coastal economies."

Referring to an observation made by the panel chairman, Jacobs reiterated the urgency of the situation.

She expounded that, "economic implications of a failed response do not allow for inaction. With just one additional foot of sea level rise, $4 billion of taxable property will be flooded in Palm Beach, Broward and Monroe counties. At three feet, that figure rises to $31 billion."

This hearing is only the latest in a string of deliberations dedicated to climate change science and planned Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) policies. This proposal could close older coal-fired power plants and induce progress on wind and other alternative energy sources.

The formation of EPA is part of the national attempts to diminish environmental threats using the best accessible scientific material. This organization aims to alleviate climate change by lowering carbon pollution and other greenhouse gas emissions. The efforts include implementing measures, such as the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program.

Republican representatives, however, slam these methods undertaken by the administration. They believe that measures promoting the science of climate change offer doubtful solutions.

Apart from local efforts, President Obama's task force proposes various steps towards solving this issue. Federal officials are encouraged to take action leading to reduced carbon pollution and mitigated impacts of climate change. At present, EPA has been granted the authority to enact policies devised to decrease carbon pollution.

TagsFlorida, Broward County, Kristin Jacobs, Barack Obama, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, Sheldon Whitehouse, environmental protection agency