Janelle Irwin Taylor
Things are going to look a little silly outside of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s Tampa office Wednesday evening as the work daywinds down. Environmental groups and supporters plan to gather at 5 p.m. in life vests and pool floaties to demand that Rubio be a climate leader, not denier.
The event is planned in coordination with 135-cities on a national day of action demanding action on climate change. Florida is ground zero for sea level rise associated with climate change.
“Of the 10 cities in the world most threatened by sea level rise: five are American, two are in Florida and Tampa is one of them,” said Kent Bailey, chairman of the Tampa Bay Sierra Club. “The time to debate the science of climate disruption has past. We march to demand a sustainable, renewable energy economy now and for the sake of generations yet unborn.”
The nationwide events come just one year after the People’s Climate March flooded the streets of Manhattan with about 400,000 people.
The Tampa event includes labor union activists, immigrants, students and faith leaders.
“We know that low-income communities are disproportionately affected by pollution, failing infrastructure, poor air quality and the repercussions of natural disasters,” Nadaije Jajoute, a worker with the Fight for $15 movement said. “If we have a disaster like Katrina or Sandy here in Florida, who do you think will be the most impacted?”
As a presidential hopeful, Rubio has toed the GOP party line by rejecting policies aimed at minimizing the effects of climate change.
“We’re not going to make America a harder place to create jobs in order to pursue policies that will do absolutely nothing, nothing to change our climate,” Rubio said in the most-recent GOP presidential debate. “America is a lot of things, the greatest country in the world, absolutely. But America is not a planet.”
Activists disagree and argue that ignoring climate change and sea level rise will only make the already bleak outlook worse while dynamic policies may actually create jobs.
“Labor supports increased clean, renewable energy which will reduce the pollution that is causing climate change. It also presents a unique opportunity to grow jobs here in the U.S. designing, manufacturing, installing, and maintaining the products and materials needed for energy efficiency and renewable energy generation,” said Aaron Carmella of the West Central Florida Federation of Labor. “We call on our leaders to develop a plan that relies on creating jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency to ensure our families and communities are safe, healthy and prepared for climate change.”
Rubio’s office is located at 5201 W. Kennedy Blvd. Activists are gathering there at 5, just in time for rush hour.
“To solve everything, we need everyone, and every solution, from solar-powered cars to zero-energy homes to a massive increase in public transit,” said Jennifer Rubiello, state director with Environment Florida. “We’re calling on Senator Rubio to take immediate and responsive action to address climate change that includes limiting dirty carbon emissions from power plants — the single largest contributor to global warming pollution.”
The rally also comes as the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris approaches later this year.
