St. Petersburg is a city located on a peninsula, between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. It is the fifth-most populous city in Florida, with a population of more than 257,000. St. Petersburg holds the Guinness World Record for most consecutive days of sunshine (768), with an average of 361 days of sunshine each year.
Recognizing the the effects of sea level rise and changing weather conditions, St. Petersburg is adapting to current conditions and preparing for what is projected to occur in the future. A panel of scientists and resource managers recently developed a sea level rise study for the Tampa Bay Region, where St. Petersburg is located, that incorporates local data with international projections. The study will be used by local and regional agencies to make better informed decisions about responding to sea level rise.
Leading efforts to combat sea level rise is Mayor Rick Kriseman, who signed an executive order in 2015 that laid out the city’s sustainability vision. Kriseman’s administration and the city council are tackling many previously unaddressed issues that directly affect the city’s ability to deal with the growing threat of sea level rise.
St. Petersburg continues to use available scientific data to help its efforts in adapting and preserving the public safety, quality of life, and economic vitality of the city.
