Fort Lauderdale is a city located 28 miles north of Miami, Florida. The city, which sees 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, is just over 36 square miles and is home to approximately 166,000 people and over 550 hotels and motels. Known for its beaches and boating canals, Fort Lauderdale has been nicknamed the “Venice of America.”
With its location on the peninsula, flat landscape, and dense coastal development, and many miles of tidally influenced waterways, Fort Lauderdale is particularly vulnerable to sea level rise. For the past several years, Fort Lauderdale leadership has been studying the data, planning according to scientifically-based projections, and taking action in cooperation with regional partners. The city encourages residents and visitors to help mitigate and adapt to sea level rise by focusing on things like water conservation, sustainable construction, and emergency preparedness.
In 2013 Fort Lauderdale became an adaptation action pilot city where, through the Florida State Community Planning Act, a comprehensive plan was developed for designated areas that are subject to coastal flooding and vulnerable to the related impacts of rising sea levels. Through the plan, funding was prioritized for infrastructure and adaptation planning.
Fort Lauderdale and its Sustainability Division continue to proactively work towards solutions for sea level rise, through a comprehensive five-year plan and working collaboratively with the South Florida Regional Climate Compact and other regional partnerships.
