What the climate conference promises could mean for SWFL

Promises were made on the world stage Tuesday about how the world’s biggest countries will slow down the effects of climate change.

If the U.S. follows through on its promises, it will have an impact on Southwest Florida.

Some of those promises include reducing methane emissions and committing to ending deforestation.

From hurricanes to forest fires, climate change can play a role in extreme weather, but it can also have subtle impacts.

Dr. Joanne Muller, an associate professor, at The Water School at FGCU said, “we see sea-level rise, which is affecting our potable water supplies here. We see drought, more drought and more flood, which is not good for our agriculture.”

Muller knows the effects of climate change aren’t just noticeable in our environment, but in our wallet too.

“You’re going to see that in your insurance bills, you’re going to see that in your air conditioning bills, everything’s going to get more expensive, food is going to become more expensive,” said Muller.

That’s why countries, including the U.S, are investing in combatting the climate crisis now.

During the climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, President Joe Biden said, “One of the most important things we can do in this decisive decade is to keep one point five degrees in reach is to reduce our methane emissions as quickly as possible.”

Moving forward the administration will more heavily regulate the potent greenhouse gas coming from oil and gas rigs, including here in Florida.

They also want to stop deforestation.

Muller said, “vegetation is a really important sink for drawing down CO2. So any, any vegetation that we take out of the ground is going to be a driver for climate change.”

And now, world leaders will try to drive the change to protect the planet.

At the summit, more than 80-countries committed to cutting global emissions of methane by 30% by 2030.