CEOs worry about climate change — and responding to the threat

CEOs were asked: Miami continues to be one of the most at-risk areas in the world for climate change and sea level rise. And yet, it remains a polarizing issue. Have you made a professional or personal decision in response to the threat from climate change? Do you think the region is where it needs to be when it comes to climate-change readiness?

I am personally involved with the hardening of two facilities against sea level rise and stronger hurricanes. The work is fascinating, time-consuming and expensive. The benefits will last decades but are ultimately limited by the surrounding neighborhood and infrastructure. Long term remediation and resiliency will require state, federal and local municipalities to address road flooding and the hardening of water, sewer, drainage and other services. More planning and work will need to be done in this regard by the public sector, or South Florida will become a less desirable place to live and work.

Andy Ansin, vice president, Sunbeam Properties

In early 2010, South Florida counties joined together to form the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact. The goal was to advance local and regional responses to, and preparation for, the effects of climate change. The Compact is now approaching its 10th year and I am not sure we have made significant changes in practices apart from seeing tides rise higher, infrastructure failures and more congestion. The counties should return to the initial form of the Compact, score card the successes, setbacks and barriers and refocus efforts on how to proactively address the issues in order to make headway before we find ourselves, well, underwater.

Michael Balaban, president, CEO, Jewish Federation of Broward County

Environmental sustainability was one of the main reasons I joined Lime. I wanted to be a leader in a company with a mission focused on making a real impact on our world. Climate change is one of the many areas where Lime makes a difference. This was especially relevant for me leading our efforts in Florida as the state is one of the most impacted by climate change. Our ability to provide solutions that replace traditional car trips and reduce carbon emissions is a game changer as we seek ways to be more sustainable as a society. That said, we have a long way to go in Florida. Rising sea levels are a real threat to our way of life and we should each take stock of what we can do as individuals to ensure our children and their children can enjoy the greatness and beauty we do today.

Uhriel Bedoya, Florida general manager, Lime

Climate change and sea level rise is a fact and I’ve been addressing the topic at the university level for years through research and education. As an example, this semester the students in my architecture graduate studio are designing an Eco Hotel in Miami Beach’s waterfront as a case study for living with sea level rise.

It’s also important to educate the community about the difference between storm surge effects and rising water tables. Not all of Miami is drowning. The effects will be felt over time, there are multiple scenarios and some sites are more and less vulnerable. I am working with my students to develop design solutions that are adaptable.

Claudia Busch, founding principal, Berenblum Busch Architects

As an insurance executive, I am well acquainted with the challenges of sea level rise, and am, in fact, involved in moving the needle on this matter. I do not see the same degree of polarization on this issue today as we have in the most recent past. It appears that government and businesses are now working diligently to address this risk. There are several non-profits, for-profits and government entities conducting studies on the economic impact of sea level rise and are working, as well, on identifying possible solutions.

Anita Byer, CEO, Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk

Climate change awareness continues to rise, and very soon politicians will be able to take unpopular measures to help control its effects. We still have many decades until Miami finds itself in a critical situation (beyond the occasional street flooding) and I believe there will be multiple measures put into effect to counter-balance the changes, including technologies not currently available.

Ricardo Dunin, founding partner, Lionheart Capital

In our line of work, appropriate and proactive risk mitigation and management is the key to success, so sea level rise and other environmental threats are receiving a great deal of attention. That said, while there is much conversation related to mitigating sea level rise and other environmental threats, not much has been done by way of plans that address empirically evidenced threats. I believe South Florida has to refrain from rhetorically addressing the issues and deliver specific plans to address them.

Carlos R. Fernandez-Guzman, president, CEO, Pacific National Bank (PNB)

Climate change and sea level rise are both real and evident. What is polarizing is agreeing on their causes and solutions. I think decisions on addressing it locally, either professionally or personally, can only be made as part of a community. We are still struggling to adapt in South Florida.

Christine Franklin, president, Cherokee Enterprises

This is a tough one. On the business side, we are taking sea-level rise very seriously and are prioritizing investing and developing property in areas that are above the flood plain.

Arnaud Karsenti, managing principal, 13th Floor Investments

This is true, and whether people believe it is man-made or man-accelerated or simply part of cyclical weather patterns over time, climate change is real and must be addressed. But rather than address only the reasons why it is happening, we must also address mitigation and adaptive solutions. In my line of work, climate change is affecting property values, insurance and lending. The Miami Herald recently ran an editorial about this issue focusing on the Florida Keys, which like Miami, is ground zero for climate change. We have also seen the impacts of king tides in recent months and the damage they have caused. There is a lot of beautiful sand in Florida but let’s not put our heads in it and ignore this major challenge, which is not for government, education or business alone to address but for all of us to confront head on. At Miami Dade College, sustainability is imbued across the entire range of degree and certificate programs through its Earth Ethics Institute, and is also one of the college’s learning outcomes. Sustainability awareness must be instilled in all young and not so young learners.

Bernie Navarro, founder and president, Benworth Capital Partners

Each of us can individually make choices that could collectively have a significant impact on our planet. I have significantly minimized single-use plastics from our home and office, and through our venture fund, made investments in companies that are making a positive impact on the environment, i.e., triple bottom line businesses. There is still a lot more that society can collectively do to improve the situation and our effort is to align capitalism with environmental protection, which will then accelerate adoption.

Sanket Parekh, founder and managing partner, Secocha Ventures

I think that climate change is a real issue that we are facing, and regardless whether you think it’s the most important issue at this time or on the top 10 issues facing our state and our nation, there are people who will be rewarded, financially and otherwise, for helping to provide solutions to the problems. This is a real opportunity for entrepreneurs to help solve these challenges — from our threatened coast line to new forms of sustainable energy like pellets made from pine and eucalyptus

Julio Ramirez, president, CEO, JEM Global Consulting

I am not sure any region is where it needs to be when it comes to climate-change readiness. While there are so many factors to be considered, not the least of which is economic, geographic and political, it should start with a self-assessment and a willingness by community leaders to come to the table to determine vulnerabilities, outline a course of action and make the commitment to take viable next steps.

Kelley Shanley, president, CEO, Broward Center for the Performing Arts

We don’t have the luxury of allowing climate change to be a political issue. We do not have the time to ignore the threat, especially here in South Florida. I look to support political figures who acknowledge climate change and are supporting aggressive action. Along with a carbon tax, and international efforts, we need a Manhattan Project-scale commitment to further develop and scale “carbon cleaning technologies” that can remove carbon from the atmosphere.

Stuart Singer, administrative partner, Fort Lauderdale office, Boies Schiller & Flexner

Considering that we serve many working families and have offices located in the Florida Keys, sea level rise is a priority that must be fully addressed at the local, state and federal levels. The economic impact of preventive measures, particularly in economically vulnerable areas, remains a big and controversial concern. More needs to be done in terms of research, planning and investment to fully prepare the region for what may be inevitable.

Evelio C. Torres, president, CEO, Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade and Monroe

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THE MIAMI HERALD CEO ROUNDTABLE IS A WEEKLY FEATURE THAT APPEARS IN BUSINESS MONDAY OF THE MIAMI HERALD. Meet the current members of the roundtable.

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