On Earth Day, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill stopping local governments’ climate change efforts.
But now, the future of Tampa’s extensive Climate Action and Equity Plan is up in the air.
In 2023, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor joined others to present the city’s Climate Action and Equity Plan.
“Today, we’re proud to release Tampa’s first climate action and equity plan, and I think everyone has a copy of that. A great deal of work went into this plan, for two years as part of our Resilient Tampa roadmap,” Castor said in 2023.
The plan would reduce carbon emissions through infrastructure changes, with a goal of “net-zero,” which means cutting carbon emissions to a balanced level.
But DeSantis’ bill, among other things, bans local governments from using net-zero policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“So it’s like, okay, we’re just going to stop the madness here, and that’s what this bill does. It safeguards Floridians by prohibiting all levels of government from adopting or enforcing these radical climate policies.” DeSantis said at a Jacksonville press conference.
Susan Glickman, vice president of Policy and Partnerships for CLEO, calls the decision appalling.
“To sign a bill on Earth Day feels quite cynical, that he’s thumbing his nose at the local communities that are suffering from extreme weather, and also that are suffering with paying power bills, and affordability is on everyone’s mind, and this went in the exact opposite direction,” Glickman told WMNF.
Non-profit climate change group the CLEO Institute partnered with the city to create the 156-page plan.
“It’s very frustrating because clean energy solutions have gotten cheaper and cheaper and cheaper. And again, because you take the fuel, the fossil gas, or coal, out of the equation, it’s just less expensive.” Glickman said.
Non-profit group, The Nature Conservancy, calls Florida “ground zero” for the effects of climate change, including warming temperatures, sea-level rise, and changing drought conditions.
In an email sent to WMNF from Tampa’s Sustainability and Resiliency Officer, Kayla Caselli, she says the city attorney and legal department staff are still reviewing how the legislation will impact the City of Tampa’s policies and programs.
The law takes effect July 1st.
This story first appeared at WMNF News, which is part of the Tampa Bay Journalism Project (TBJP), a nascent Creative Loafing Tampa Bay effort supported by grants and a coalition of donors who make specific contributions via the Alternative Newsweekly Foundation. If you are a non-paywalled Bay area publication or donor interested in Tampa Bay Journalism Project, please email rroa@ctampa.com. Support WMNF News by visiting the community radio station’s support page.
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This article appears in May 07 – 13, 2026.