Our News
Find links to articles about Growing Climate Solutions, climate change news, sustainability efforts and more.
Where is Florida on ESG?
In August 2022 Governor Ron DeSantis, along with fellow Trustees of the State Board of Administration, passed a resolution directing Florida’s fund managers to invest …
Candidates on Climate: With the Election on the Horizon, Keep Climate a Priority
In mid-February, Nikki Haley, the Republican former governor of South Carolina, entered the 2024 presidential race. In a poll of 1,500 Republican voters, 11 percent …
Mayors Weigh-in on Climate Actions
The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act allocates $370 billion in funding to tackle climate change – creating new opportunities for local governments and elected officials to …
A New Era for Tequila?
February 22 is National Margarita Day, so as you sip your salt-rimmed glass poolside, below is some food (or drink!) for thought. As a …
Go Green, Save Green with Electric Vehicles
The transportation sector accounts for about one-third of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, so transitioning from traditional, gas-fueled vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) …
Participate in Important Resilience Research!
The University of South Florida and affiliated researchers, including faculty at FGCU, are studying household responses to hurricane information and evacuation decisions, particularly regarding Hurricane …
New Solar Co-op: Join SWFL SUN!
Nonprofit group Solar United Neighbors (SUN) announced the launch of the SWFL 2023 Solar Co-op on January 17 during the SWFL Climate & Community Summit. …
Growing Community Engagement
On January 17, two hundred and fifty community members – comprised of a rare blend of business and civic leaders, residents, and public officials – …
Growing Collaboration in 2023
We welcome the New Year as a time of fresh beginnings and with renewed optimism in the fortitude and resilience of the SWFL community. We …
On the Table: Alt-Meat
According to Paul Hawken’s book Drawdown, reforming food production systems, reducing food waste, and relying more on a plant-based diet are among the top ways …
Looking Forward to a Bright Season Ahead
Embracing the hustle and bustle of the Holiday Season, Growing Climate Solutions is wrapping up loose ends after joining the Southwest Florida Community in cleanup, …
The Inflation Reduction Act Can Help Make Rebuilding Efforts More Energy Efficient
As our region cleans up debris and begins the process of repairing homes and replacing damaged appliances, homeowners might consider delaying some repairs until the …
Growing Resilience – One Yard at a Time
Sprucing up the landscaping of a wind and water-damaged yard for the holidays may seem daunting, especially if you’ve lost old trees or plants …
We’re All in it Together: Bringing Community to the Table
The Climate & Community Summit was rapidly approaching on October 6th when Hurricane Ian slammed us, upending the lives of our residents, the livelihood …
Too Hot to Handle?
The arrival of fall promises cooler, more comfortable days, but the summer’s unprecedented wave of record-breaking temperatures left a searing impression on communities around the …
Leave Behind Outdated Assumptions to Support a Healthier Climate
Assumption 1: Every home needs a big, green lawn NASA reports that more surface area is devoted to lawns than to any other single …
2022 Southwest Florida Climate Survey in a Nutshell
The 2018 Naples Daily News headline “Hurricane Irma a wake-up call on climate change for many Southwest Floridians” was a catalyst for initiating Growing …
Gearing Up for the October 6th Climate & Community Summit
Mark October 6th on your calendars! Growing Climate Solutions, a member of the Climate and Community Initiative, hopes to see you at the Hyatt …
Curbing the EPA’s authority means states and cities must up their game
By Dr. Ana Puszkin-Chevlin The Supreme Court’s ruling limiting the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions was a devastating setback to the United …
The Carbon CREW Project – Changing Behavior is Easier Together
What can sustainability champions learn from Weight Watchers? The high success rate seen at Weight Watcher’s is in large part due to the support, encouragement, and camaraderie created at group meetings where clients …
Stepping Up School Sustainability
With just weeks left to cherish summer’s slower pace, Going-Back-to-School sales will soon leave store shelves void of backpacks, notebooks and other school …
Planting Trees and Good Ideas
Spring is a time for planting: both trees and important ideas! Growing Climate Solutions has been doing both in April and May. Prior to Earth Day, …
Beyond Green with Cheney Landscaping
Landscaping at its best supports native plants and trees that flourish with minimal maintenance and climate-friendly practices. Such is the aspiration for Growing Climate Solutions Partner …
Think Thrift This Summer
Gone are the days when shopping for pre-owned clothing is stigmatized; thrift shops now outpace many traditional stores. According to Forbes Magazine, 64% of women …
Home Improvement Financing Can Be Affordable
With growing inflation and interest rates rising, homeowners are looking for smart ways to save money. Reducing the energy costs by installing efficient air conditioning …
Sanibel-Captiva Meets to Inform and Invite Public Input on Renewable Energy
Days before the Sanibel City Council met to discuss their city’s Strategic Plan, the Sanibel-Captiva Renewable Energy Group held a public community meeting on the …
The Relationship Between Climate and Justice
By Deneine Powell, Director of ecoAmerica’s Path to Positive Program We are watching the impacts of climate change unfold outside of our very windows. It …
Does Climate Change Stress You Out?
The benefits of engaging in climate-friendly activities often extend beyond supporting a healthier environment, according to an emerging sector of mental health professionals known as …
Naples Compost: Turning Trash into Treasure
Growing Climate Solutions welcomes Naples Compost as a new Leadership Partner. Offering both commercial composting services as well as backyard compost consultations, Naples Compost provides …
Earth Day and Beyond
On April 22nd the environment takes center stage as Southwest Florida joins communities around the world to celebrate Earth Day. Founded in 1970, to call attention to …
Partner Spotlight: Lipman Farms
The careful cultivation of America’s food supply involves precise monitoring and management of resources. That’s why Lipman Family Farms, North American grower and distributor of …
Meeting Three 2022 Goals
February kicks off the 2022 SWFL Climate Compass series, a three-part series of national speakers taking on climate and food, oceans and transportation. Since late …
Should we “Wine” About Climate Change?
Ana Puszkin-Chevlin, Ph.D., Regional Director, Growing Climate Solutions Photo credit – Apolo Photographer via Unsplashed With Naples Winter Wine Festival scheduled to take place …
Florida-Friendly Landscaping to the Rescue
By: Kamila Perez, Senior Environmental Specialist 2022 Lunar New Year celebrations begin on February 1st, signifying the beginning of spring planting season for communities around …
What does USDA Organic Mean?
by Bridget Washburn Climate savvy shoppers seeking seasonal, local, and organically grown foods enjoy a variety of choices here in Southwest Florida. Purchasing local and …
Labeled…Certifications for Eco-Savvy Shopping
By Bridget Washburn ‘Tis the season for cooking, sharing, and giving – a season to “shop till you drop”. This year, whether facing the crowds …
Holiday Round-Up and 2022 Plans
In December, we kick-off of our new Y&HOW Sustainable Living Workshops, a series of one-hour virtual meetings focused on practical and actionable things residents and …
Citizens Climate Lobby Attends COP26
PHOTO: CCI Board Member and Latin America Regional Coordinator Isatis Cintrón addressed the high-level segment with a call to respect the rights and the role …
As we approach fall, here’s what’s happening..
The start of October lets us bid farewell to the hottest average temperatures seen in the past 125 years – placing Summer 2021 “neck and …
Collier County’s League of Women Voters are Active on Climate
by Alison Wescott With over 500,000 members nationwide and 29 local leagues across Florida, the League of Women Voters (LWV) serves as a powerhouse for …
Seeds and All
[fusion_builder_container type=”flex” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” border_style=”solid” flex_justify_content=”center” flex_align_items=”stretch”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”4_5″ layout=”4_5″ align_self=”center” content_layout=”block” align_content=”center” valign_content=”flex-start” content_wrap=”wrap” spacing=”yes” …
Shade Makes Everyone Cool
A recent NOAA headline read that July 2021 was the hottest month ever recorded globally. And while today’s calendar announces the beginning of autumn, scorching …
The IPCC 6th Assessment Report: the Truth, Plain and Not So Simple
The IPCC report was released on August 9th. If you don’t have the patience to read the 1300 page document or even the 40-page executive …
Plant Food is Good Food
The food we eat is a matter where health and environmental sustainability converge. That’s because food production contributes approximately one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, …
Two Projects Completed and Now Planning for Next Season
August is upon us, and as families wind down vacations and kids return to school, at Growing Climate Solutions we are completing 2020-21 projects and …
Leadership Circle Partners Principles Document
LEADERSHIP CIRCLE PRINCIPLES As visionary leaders of business, civic, government, health, education, faith, and community organizations, we take shared responsibility for protecting our natural environment and …
Climate First Banks Opens in St. Petersburg
We all know that we can make climate-positive choices by selecting sustainable products, but you can also support climate action by how you invest and …
Gravitas Infinitum’s Carbotura Will Sequester CO2 with Hemp
Gravitas Infinitum, a Naples-based impact holding company focused on companies and projects that provide positive environmental impacts, is one of Growing Climate Solution’s new 2021 …
Cities Innovate on Sustainability:Observations from Cleveland and New York
[fusion_builder_container type=”flex” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” border_style=”solid”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” …
Growing Climate Solutions partners with Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida to Launch Climate Change Patch
We are pleased to see this great coverage about our recent success in developing a Climate Change Patch in partnership with the Girl Scouts of …
Onward and Upward – Tree Planting, Climate Summits, Partnerships and More!
In Southwest Florida, the arrival of June brings afternoon showers and sweltering temperatures, more leisurely summer days….and the not-so-anticipated onset of the annual hurricane season. …
Sustainable Investing: Making Money and Doing the Right Thing
By Andrew Hill, CFA Sustainability has been a buzzword in recent years as more people understand the importance of minimizing our impact on the …
Not Playing Around – Toys Go Green
By Bridget Washburn Any climate-concerned parent of young children should be thrilled that toy manufacturer Matel recently announced its intent to collect, reuse and recycle …
Northern Trust Creates Culture of Sustainability
By Bina Kumar, Vice President of Regional Marketing, Northern Trust Northern Trust recognizes that the long-term viability of our business and our clients is tied …
Highlights from the SWFL Climate Summit
Southwest Florida is moving forward on objectively assessing challenges posed by a changing climate, and how to socialize topics of climate preparedness and resilience among …
It’s Time to Start Planning for Renewable Energy
By Bob Moore, Sanibel has begun an important planning process. In 2019, the city commissioned a study by FGCU professor, Michael Savarese, to understand the …
Driving Climate Solutions: Electric Vehicle Propulsion
Ed Maxwell and Bridget Washburn “It’s quiet, convenient, and my kids love it! After a couple of years of just plugging my car into the …
Let the Sunshine In! Conservancy of Southwest Florida Adds Solar Capacity
With an average of 270 sunny days, Southwest Florida lives up to the State’s reputation as “the Sunshine State”. An endless supply of solar power …
Springing Forward in 2021
Photo Credit Erin Williams Photography April is typically a busy month for sustainability, climate initiatives, and professionals, with Earth Day celebrated on April 22, the …
Improving the Commuter Experience
COVID resulted in approximately 30% of the workforce working from home on a daily basis, and another 25% of workers telecommuting at least occasionally. Most …
Recapping ” A Conservative Approach to Solving Climate Change”
During the inaugural event of SWFL Climate Compass series, Bob Inglis made a compelling case for implementing a nation-wide carbon tax that would be revenue-neutral …
This or That Challenge: Climate Change Edition
By: Marissa Spraker, FGCU student and SWFL Climate Ambassador, February 12th, 2021 We all know that climate change has become a huge topic of conversation …
How the SWFL Climate Compass Series, Local Media and You Can Catalyze a Public Dialogue on Climate
Planning for our SWFL Climate Compass Speaker Series is well underway! The goal of the SWFL Climate Compass Series was to attract folks who typically …
Valentine’s Day Sweets: Cocoa and Climate Change
Valentine’s Day is about the truest of loves—chocolate! As you reach for that box of bonbons in the heart-shaped red velvet box or your favorite …
Climate Solutions Benefit Us All – Letter to Port Charlotte Sun Editors
Response to “Let’s Call the Climate Change Bluff” December 21, 2020 by Ed Maxwell, Ph.D. Business Owner and SWFL Climate Ambassador, Dec. 26, 2020 Dear …
Real Estate Investing for 2050
After a decade of talking about the risks climate change poses to Florida real estate, I’ve now started to consider where to buy land to …
Help Build Momentum for the SWFL Regional Resiliency Compact
Written in by Tom Bierma and Growing Climate Solutions Throughout the fall, FGCU Professor Mike Savarese met with elected officials in the region, urging them …
December Newsletter – 2020
The last newsletter of the year offers tips for sustainable holidays, a summary of climate and environmental measures passed during the November election, and a …
Climate Ambassadors Help Make Change Happen
To move communities to climate action citizens need to engage their city council and state legislature meetings (virtually at this time. Citizen engagement works, as …
Hang on, 2021 is Just Around the Corner
For many of us, 2021 can’t come soon enough. Growing Climate Solutions is also excited for the new year. We have ambitious programs planned for …
Towards a Zero-Waste Holiday: Your Questions Answered
By Sarah E. Swiersz Amidst all of the holiday buzz, you may be wondering how to make more sustainable choices, and particularly cut down on …
Right to Clean Water Charter Amendment is Now Law
by Linda Sechrist, President of SWFL RESET Center On Election Day, 89% of Orange County voters turned their Right to Clean Water Charter Amendment into …
Having Plan B
A tenet of Growing Climate Solutions is that stakeholders who understand the reason the climate is changing, the magnitude of climate impacts, and the various …
Resiliency Bonds on November’s Ballot
Two cities on Florida’s southeast coast are moving forward climate adaptation with the passage of general obligation bond referendums earmarked for resiliency projects. In Miami …
Rx for the Earth: Telecommuting
by Stephanie Petrakos, guest contributor It’s hard to believe that 2021 is around the corner. Looking back, 2020 will be remembered as a year of …
Paleontology say that adaptation has always been Humans’ key to Climate Change Survival
Professor Uno, a paleontologist at Columbia University’s Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory makes a compelling case as to how homosapiens have survived previous climate change episodes …
Newsletter, Volume 1 Issue 4
October’s Newsletter featured unique articles on recycling right in SWFL, the carbon footprint of the fashion industry, the changing nature of work environments, and our …
Conserving Open-Space is a Climate Solution
Land conservation is one of the most critical, and least discussed climate mitigation options. Conserving natural open spaces is fundamental to climate resilience on various …
Glancing in the Rearview, Full Speed Ahead
At the beginning of our second year, we take a moment to look back on what we’ve accomplished and where we go next. For the …
Let’s Support the Southwest Regional Resiliency Compact
Since the 1980s, the direct cost of hurricane events in the US has increased eleven-fold, from $3.8 billion annually to $43.8 billion annually in 2020. …
If to Toss, Where to Toss? That is the Question: Recycling Right in SWFL
By Sarah Swiersz A recent graduate of the University of Central Florida and lifelong resident of SWFL Recycling is arguably the baseball or apple pie …
Where We Work
Labor Day was designated to acknowledge the Labor Movement’s victories to reform the American workplace; the creation of the 8-hour workday, the 40-hour workweek, …
Making Green the New Fashion Color
Society’s passion for fashion, it turns out, contributes 4% of global greenhouse gases emitted annually, 2.1 billion tons, which is more than the combined annual …
ecoAmerica notes the “Fierce Optimism of Now”
By Jennifer Roberts, Director of Path to Positive Communities The past months of crisis have brought forward many wrenching, heartbreaking stories about the challenges that …
Newsletter Volume 1, Issue 3
The August Newsletter is here! This issue features four original articles: one about the Bi-partisan Growing Climate Solutions Act, a green-lifestyle piece about Apps that …
Teaching 21st Century Social Studies
By Dr. Ana Puszkin-Chevlin This August, as parents, teachers, and school districts struggle to decide how to safely educate our children during a raging pandemic, …
Establishing Roots
Summer is typically a time to regroup, re-refresh and plan for “Season”. But summer 2020 has been different. Because the spring was spent reorganizing and …
What’s in a Name? The New Growing Climate Solutions Act Aims to Grow Carbon Credit Markets
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_color=”” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” …
APPS FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE
By Kiah St. Onge Yergi Changing habits is hard. Many people find support and success with the use of assistive technology. Like Fitbits and Weight …
Irrespective of Party Affiliation, Floridians believe in Climate Change
These days it seems difficult to find common ground among Republicans and Democrats, but one thing we now know, Floridians overwhelming agree that climate …
Three SWFL Cities May be Underestimating Flood Risk
Three Southwest Florida cities may be significantly underestimating their flood risk, according to new data produced First Street Foundation’s Flood Factor model. The Flood Factor …
One Climate Solution: Encourage More Telecommuting
The public health and economic crises that have unfolded since March and the calls for social justice that erupted in June have upended the status …
Newsletter Vol. 1 Issue 2.
Despite COVID-19, Growing Climate Solutions continues to grow and advance its climate program! Read our June newsletter to learn about the SWFL Climate Ambassador Program …
SWFL Climate Ambassadors Complete Training
Our first cohort of SWFL Climate Ambassadors completed the 3-hour training program in May and are now ready to engage the public in climate discussions. …
Shhhh and Listen
Shhhhh Everyone and Listen By Ana Puszkin-Chevlin, Ph.D. May 22, 2020 On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, in April 2020, cities around the world …
Montreal, Kyoto and Paris – an overview of international climate accords
By Kiah St. Onge-Yergi, Intern and Sandra Mollinedo, FGCU Student The Montreal Protocol, 1987 The Montreal Protocol termed the “Montreal Protocol on Substances that Depleted …
Repurposing Streets: Replacing cars with socially-distanced people
Across the globe, stay at home orders and social distancing requirements are making transportation planners and public officials re-think how street infrastructure can better serve …
Announcing SWFL Climate Ambassador Training Program
May 27th & May 28th from 3:00-4:30 pm Growing Climate Solutions: Path to Positive Southwest Florida, through their partner ecoAmerica, is excited to offer a …
Global Warming Changes Bird Migration Patterns
by Kiah St. Onge-Yergi, Growing Climate Solutions Intern This past weekend I walked the CREW Marsh Trails with my dog to break-up my self-isolation with …
Newsletter Vol.1 Issue 1
We’ve been busy in 2020! Read our newsletter and learn about Growing Climate Solutions: Path to Positive Southwest Florida’s activities and impact. It also features …
Don’t Let COVID-19 Drain Us
Conserving water while washing your hands is important. In the face of the Convid-19 Pandemic washing your hands more frequently is vital, especially: After interactions …
Growing Climate Solutions convenes Leadership Circle to begin developing solutions for Southwest Florida’s changing climate
An influential group of leaders from across Southwest Florida has begun outlining action steps as the region addresses the impacts of its changing climate. Growing …
Growing Climate Solutions Regional Director Speaks to Naples Press Club
We were privileged to speak to the @pressclubswfl in February to introduce ourselves to the organization and the region. Our Executive Director, Dr. Ana Puszkin-Chevlin, …
Antarctic warming shows dire need for climate change action
It is important to pay attention to the impacts of climate change across the globe, not just in Southwest Florida. Recently, Antarctica warmed to temperatures …
Growing Climate Solutions expands in Southwest Florida
We can ALL do something about climate change – and we need to do it now. Growing Climate Solutions: Path to Positive Southwest Florida was …