In 2021, the Compact developed the Climate Assessment Tool (C-CAT) to better understand local governments’ actions on 11 key mitigation and adaptation priorities and to increase communication and transparency around regional progress. All 115 county, municipal and tribal governments were invited to participate in a voluntary survey which, in the first year it was administered, provided a baseline understanding of recent regional advancements relevant to local government planning and implementation through the calendar year 2020. In 2022, the Compact administered the voluntary survey for the second time, assessing additive progress made throughout the calendar year 2021. This voluntary survey was open from June to September 2022.
A total of 31 (32%) of the local and tribal governments in the region responded to the 2022 survey, as compared to 27 (23%) in 2021, the first year the survey was administered — a 13% increase in participation.
The charts and graphs below are intended as a snapshot of the progress being made on the 11 priority mitigation and adaptation actions by the 31 local and tribal governments who completed the survey. To view individual government responses, please see the local government matrix, where all survey responses can be downloaded.
About the Survey Responses
Given the limited capacity of many municipalities and the desire to not place additional burden on their limited resources through this survey process, the Compact designed the survey to capture coarse information regarding broad categories of mitigation and adaptation actions. While the results demonstrate positive progress toward both the mitigation and adaptation priorities outlined among survey respondents, there is still significant work to be done across various priorities, as well as the work to ensure equity is at the center of climate change action—which will undoubtedly require continued commitment and ambition, funding and collaboration. The documentation provided by the respondents can be found in the local government matrix below.
The Southeast Florida region has both much at stake from climate change impacts and enormous opportunity from a strong response. Fundamentally, this response requires a transformation of government operations to ensure that resilience, equity and lowcarbon principles are embedded holistically and as a matter of course. It should also be noted that as a self-assessment tool, the Compact does not validate the activities reported via the survey. Local and tribal governments were encouraged to include backup documentation to support their self-reporting (i.e. linking to resolutions, budget items, referenced plans, etc.), as well as to provide a public comment/resident review period.
Regional Snapshot
How many local/tribal governments in Southeast Florida (inclusive of the Compact region of Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach) are reporting on their climate change activities?
Thirty-one local and tribal governments in the region, inclusive of Broward, Miami- Dade, Palm Beach and Monroe counties responded to the survey. Fifty-five percent of the total local/tribal governments in Broward County, 6% of Miami-Dade’s local/tribal governments, 50% of Monroe’s local/tribal governments and 20% of Palm Beach’s local/ tribal governments responded to the survey.
What are the priority actions where local/tribal governments are making the most progress?
Related to mitigation priorities, responding local/tribal governments are making the most progress on advancing activities to reduce vehicle miles traveled (85%). Related to adaptation priorities, responding local/tribal governments are making the most progress in conducting vulnerability analyses (82%).
County Snapshot
Broward County
There are 33 local and tribal governments in Broward County, inclusive of the county itself. Eighteen local/tribal governments, including Broward County, responded to the survey, a 15% increase in participation from the prior year. Among respondents in Broward County, 61% are advancing all five priority mitigation actions and 33% are advancing all six priority adaptation actions.
Related to mitigation priorities, respondents in Broward County are making the most progress on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reducing vehicle miles traveled, with 89% of respondents indicating they are advancing these priorities. Related to adaptation priorities, the most progress is being made on conducting vulnerability analyses and incorporating risk reduction and equitable community resilience into planning, with 83% of respondents indicating they are advancing these actions.
Miami Dade County
There are 36 local and tribal governments in Miami-Dade County, inclusive of the county itself. This past year, Palmetto Bay and Miami-Dade County responded to the survey, an 11% decrease in participation from the previous year. The Compact encourages more participation from municipalities within Miami-Dade county in the future.
Both the County and Palmetto Bay are advancing mitigation actions related to improving building efficiency, solar development, EV expansion and reducing vehicle miles traveled. On the adaptation front, both entities report efforts to conduct vulnerability analyses, incorporate risk reduction and equitable community resilience into planning and advance equitable resilience policies.
Monroe County
There are six local and tribal governments in Monroe County, inclusive of the county itself. Three local/tribal governments, including Monroe County, responded to the survey, a 17% increase in participation from the prior year. Marathon is advancing all five priority mitigation actions, and both Monroe County and Marathon are advancing all six priority adaptation actions.
Mitigation actions related to expanding solar and reducing vehicle miles traveled are being advanced by 100% of respondents. Five of the six priority adaptation actions are being advanced by all respondents — the county, Marathon and Layton.
Palm Beach County
There are 40 local and tribal governments in Palm Beach County, inclusive of the county itself. Eight local/tribal governments, including Palm Beach County, responded to the survey, a 5% increase in participation from the prior year. Among respondents in Palm Beach County, 63% are advancing all five priority mitigation actions and 50% are advancing all six priority adaptation actions.
Palm Beach respondents are reporting the most progress on mitigation actions related to improving building efficiency, solar development and reducing vehicle miles traveled, with 75% of respondents advancing these actions. Similarly, 75% of respondents are reporting progress on four of the six adaptation priorities, which include conducting an internal assessment of capacity, completing a vulnerability analysis, incorporating risk reduction and equitable community resilience into planning and advancing capital projects to reduce risk.
Local/Tribal Government Responses
| Mitigation Action #1: GHG Emissions | Mitigation Action #2: Building Efficiency | Mitigation Action #3: Solar | Mitigation Action #4: EV | Mitigation Action #5: VMT | Adaptation Action #1: Internal Assessment | Adaptation Action #2: Vulnerability Analysis | Adaptation Action #3: Resilience Plan | Adaptation Action #4: Risk Reduction & Community Planning | Adaptation Action #5: Policy | Adaptation Action #6: Capital Projects | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boca Raton | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| Boynton Beach | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Broward County | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Coconut Creek | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Coral Springs | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Dania Beach | 1 | ||||||||||
| Davie | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Delray Beach | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| Fort Lauderdale | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Glen Ridge | |||||||||||
| Hallandale Beach | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Hollywood | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||
| Lantana | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Lauderhill | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | ||||
| Layton | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | |||
| Lighthouse Point | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Marathon | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Miami-Dade County | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Monroe County | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
| North Lauderdale | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||||
| Oakland Park | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |||
| Palm Beach | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Palmetto Bay | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | ||||
| Pompano Beach | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Seminole Tribe | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |||
| South Palm Beach | |||||||||||
| Southwest Ranches | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| Sunrise | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | ||
| Tamarac | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| West Palm Beach | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Wilton Manors | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |