South Florida is at risk for weather-related threats like flooding, which is exacerbated by sea-level rise, and extreme heat. The Division of Built Environment Risk Reduction is focused on the following priorities:

Risk Reduction (adaptation)

We are already starting to see these impacts in coastal communities. We need to prepare for these threats now as we contruct buildings and plan for our communities. Here's how we're increasing our readiness to future changes:

Conducting climate vulnerability assessments for unincorporated PBC and working with PBC municipalities to support their vulnerability assessments
Creating a Resilience Action Plan for Palm Beach County
Implementing Capital Improvement Project Policy & Procedures Manual
Collaborating with regional partners to update the South Florida Regional Climate Action Plan periodically

Resource Management (mitigation)

We are working to minimize those impacts by taking action to limit long-term weather patterns and related effects. This involves working to reduce waste and save energy with projects such as:

Analyzing and increasing tree canopy
Monitoring Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Increasing Energy Efficiency of County buildings
Piloting Electric Vehicle Charging at County Facilities
Increasing the Use of Solar Power in PBC
Overseeing the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program

Sustainable Development & Actions

According to the Brundtland Commission, sustainability means "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." This includes conserving natural resources like our aquifers and wetlands so that these ecosystems provide clean drinking water for generations to come. We are working to be more sustainable in our planning and actions by: