Tuesday, October 1st, officially marked the beginning of the 2019-2020 fishing season of the Queen Conch (Strombus Gigas). The season closed on April 30th, and after six months, fishermen across the country are once again allowed to harvest one of the most significant sources of revenue in the fishing industry. Conch is a staple across Belize, prepared in dishes like ceviche, soups, and fritters among others.

October 2019 — This month, youth climate advocates came together around the world to highlight the global climate emergency, and Miami Beach listened. The city declared its own climate emergency in response and vowed to prioritize climate change on its agenda.

MIAMI – FIU was awarded a $3 million grant to investigate how corals are responding to climate change at the molecular level from the National Science Foundation’s Understanding the Rules of Life (URoL): Epigenetics program.

MIAMI-DADE – The Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 3 passed a suite of new policies – spearheaded by Commissioner Levine Cava – aimed at tackling the mounting threats to our community’s clean water. 

UNITED NATIONS – Caribbean community (CARICOM) leaders have warned the international community that the “the clock is ticking” as the impact of climate change continues to severely affect their countries.

TAMPA, FL - This morning, the Sierra Club released a report that shows a Florida electric utility portfolio of additional renewable energy, storage, and demand-side management (DSM) could consistently meet, and beat, the performance characteristics of new proposed big methane gas fired power plants - and at a lower cost to consumers. That analysis was based on the methodology developed by the  Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) in their new Report, comparing Florida utilities’ fracked gas plants under construction to their potential clean energy counterparts. 

Washington, D.C. –  Four exemplary coastal restoration projects win top honors from the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) by implementing creative solutions to eroding shores, rising seas, and degrading environmental conditions. The winning projects located in Louisiana, Texas, Virginia and Delaware each demonstrate innovative approaches and partnerships to achieve superior ecological outcomes. All serve as flagships for other shoreline restoration efforts.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The unprecedented levels of sargassum seaweed that washed up on Caribbean beaches in 2018 resulted in estimated clean-up costs of US$120 million, according to Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism and Co-Chair of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCM), Hon. Edmund Bartlett.

MIAMI —Miami-Dade County Community Action and Human Services Department (CAHSD) is accepting applications for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). The Weatherization Assistance Program strengthens the health and safety of homes while also increasing the energy efficiency for year round comfort at NO COST to the homeowner.  

MIAMI —Eddie Cochran may have once famously sung that "There ain't no cure for the summertime blues!", but there are plenty of ways to reduce the hassle caused by peak mosquito activity. One need not have to limit outdoor time just because of the threat of mosquito bites, and the seriousness of the diseases they can carry.         

MIAMI – Game On! Lace up your sneakers and be part of the fun and games happening at Miami-Dade Parks as they celebrate July’s Park and Recreation Month, an initiative of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).  The month-long nation-wide celebration raises awareness of the vital impact of parks and recreation and conservation and stewardship activities in improving lives and the environment.

ANTIGUA - France and Germany, along with The Nature Conservancy, have pledged over US$45 million in contributions to the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) to increase resources for biodiversity conservation.