Five of Florida’s top scientists met with Governor Rick Scott in August to urge him to develop policies to offset the effects of human-induced climate change in the state.
The group asked to meet with Scott after the governor responded with "I'm not a scientist" when asked by a reporter about climate change earlier this year.
Dr. David Hastings, a professor of marine science and chemistry at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg who was among those scientists, said Florida is ground zero for the effects of climate change.
"Sea level rise, ocean acidification, contamination of our fresh drinking water," Hastings said. "Because we are surrounded by the ocean, the effects and the impacts of sea level rise are tremendously important."
WJCT’s Peter Haden spoke with Hastings about the meeting and what measures the group is pushing for Governor Scott to take.
You can follow Peter Haden on Twitter @HadenMedia.
