South Florida's three largest counties have competed -- for jobs, conventions, sports teams, cruise ships, federal funds and many other things -- as much as they have cooperated over the years.

But Friday, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, joined by Monroe, agreed that they share a large, looming problem they better start working on together fast: global warming, which brings with it the scary prospect of waves washing against abandoned beachside hotels before the century is up.

In the first regional summit on climate change, more than 200 political leaders, planners, water experts and environmental scientists from the four counties met in Fort Lauderdale. They kicked off what participants pledged would become a cooperative effort to address rising seas and temperatures that threaten to profoundly change the landscape and life from Key West to Palm Beach -- and the rest of the state as well.

Broward Commissioner Kristin Jacobs, who spearheaded the summit, said it makes not only practical sense to share resources, data and strategies but political sense as well.

The three counties alone have more than 5.5 million residents, more people than 30 entire states. Only 80,000 live in Monroe but the low-lying islands of the Keys rank among the nation's most at-risk communities and will be the first measuring sticks of sea rise.

``It's really about us speaking with one voice,'' Jacobs said. ``There is strength in numbers.''

MORE CLOUT

And, the counties hope, more clout with lawmakers in Tallahassee and Washington. The primary goal is to shape state and federal climate policies and steer more funding to communities most at risk -- namely, South Florida.

The current House version of federal climate change legislation, for instance, divvies up funding to states alone. The counties back the Senate bill, which sets aside 12 percent for local governments.

Judging by the presentations, South Florida will need every dollar it can get, with major infrastructure overhauls needed even under the low-ball sea level scenarios.

With just an eight-inch rise, drainage canals can lose 40 percent of capacity and salt intrusion will taint and squeeze underground drinking water aquifers. With a four-foot rise by 2100 -- projected by Miami-Dade's climate task force -- the sea covers much of the barrier islands and begins percolating up from the Everglades in low-lying western suburbs.

NEW POLICIES

As part of a regional climate compact, the four counties will develop building, mass transit and land-use policies to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions that scientists blame for global warming.

But Jim Murley, director of Florida Atlantic University's Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions and chairman of a state energy and climate commission, said political leaders will need to start doing more, including something many have been loath to do -- saying ``no'' to some development.

``I would suggest to you we need to reset the way we think about doing land-use planning in the future,'' he said. ``We're going to have to start to understand how we can accommodate where to put the water.''

Environmentalists have been screaming for stronger growth management for years and say they've gotten back mostly lip service.

Many remain skeptical that politicians will follow through on climate issues, citing how economic issues have pushed Gov. Charlie Crist's green agenda to the back burner.

``The nuclear power plants are moving full speed ahead. They're about to propose more offshore drilling,'' said Panagioti Tsolkas, co-chairman of the Palm Beach County Environmental Coalition, who did not attend the summit.

His group is fighting a gas-fired power plant that Florida Power & Light wants to build in western Palm Beach, which he says will annually emit 12 tons of carbon dioxide, a key greenhouse gas. FPL was among the sponsors of the regional conference.

``It still seems the priority is keeping the energy empire happy,'' he said.

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