As we enter the holiday season—when homes glow a little warmer, communities feel a little closer, and hope comes a little easier—the Climate Adaptation Center is celebrating an uplifting message from our 5th Annual Florida Climate Conference: Climate & Biodiversity.
Among the many scientific insights shared, one stood out as especially fitting for this time of year:
The world has already begun to slow the rate of global temperature rise.
It is not enough yet—but it is real. And it means the actions we take today can still protect Florida’s future.
A Rare Piece of Good News
One of the central scientific findings presented at the conference is that the transition from fossil-fuel-intensive energy to cleaner sources has already made a measurable difference. Global temperatures are still rising, but not as fast as they would have without this transition.
This matters because of slower warming:
• reduces how quickly sea levels climb
• gives ecosystems more time to adapt
• lowers the severity of future storms
• buys precious time for Florida’s wildlife and coastal communities
In the spirit of the season, it is a reminder that progress is possible—and that collective effort works.
Why Slowing Warming Is So Powerful
In past eras of rapid climate change, species faced abrupt disruptions that led to mass extinctions. Today’s rate of warming is unprecedented in human history, but reducing its speed gives scientists, communities, and ecosystems a fighting chance.
At the conference, experts underscored a hopeful scientific reality:
Once human-made emissions reach zero, the Earth will begin to cool again.
The path is steep, but not impossible—and Florida stands to benefit enormously.
Florida’s Future Depends on Time
Slowing warming is not just a global win; it is an urgently needed gift for Florida’s biodiversity.
Florida’s ecosystems—coral reefs, wetlands, coastal marshes, and forests—are already under stress:
• Sea-level rise is encroaching on coastal habitat
• Coral bleaching events are becoming more frequent
• Species migration pathways are shrinking
• Over 70% of wild areas are already altered
The more time we buy, the more we can protect. Slower warming creates room for adaptation, restoration, and innovation—from coral biorepositories to wildlife corridors to new tools emerging from biotechnology and habitat science.
A Holiday Message of Resilience
This is a season when people reflect on what matters: home, family, community, and the places that shape our lives. Florida’s coastlines, mangroves, springs, rivers, reefs, and wildlife are all part of what makes this state home. The science shared at the conference reminds us that protecting it is still possible.
A Season of Giving, A Season of Hope
As we celebrate the holidays and look toward a new year, we invite you to help strengthen Florida’s resilience. Your support fuels the science, education, and local action needed to ensure that our coastlines, ecosystems, and communities thrive for generations to come.
From all of us at the Climate Adaptation Center,
Warmest holiday wishes—and thank you for keeping hope alive for Florida’s future.