How Miami confronts climate and economic challenges

Miami faces a critical moment as climate change drops economic challenges on agriculture, tourism and other industries.

Rising seas and extreme weather are increasing costs for farmers, restaurateurs and cities, with storm surges and flooding disrupting supply chains and inflating prices.

Local efforts, such as elevating roads in vulnerable areas, highlight the high financial stakes of long-term resilience projects, often met with community resistance over soaring costs.

Meanwhile, industries like clam farming in Cedar Key struggle to rebound from consecutive climate-induced disasters, underscoring the need for government intervention and policy reform to sustain livelihoods and safeguard critical sectors.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Nancy Hodges Duduen, 83, made a trip from Tallahassee to First Street in Cedar Key on Wednesday, Oct. 2 to see the damage to the home she grew up in. By Ashley Miznazi

NO. 1: HELENE, NOW MILTON DELIVERING DEVASTATING STORM SURGE. WILL FLORIDA EVER BUILD FOR IT?

The power of surge: ‘It will destroy you. It will break the piles, the columns that the house was built on.’ | Published October 9, 2024 | Read Full Story by Denise Hruby

Joseph Cannon, a clam farmer in Cedar Key, drives his boat out to a clam harvesting site on Oct. 2. that was devastated after Hurricane Helene. By Ashley Miznazi

NO. 2: THEY PRODUCE FLORIDA’S CLAMS. TO SURVIVE CLIMATE CHANGE, THEY’RE COUNTING ON REPUBLICANS.

‘I’m a Republican, but I believe in climate change.’ | Published November 13, 2024 | Read Full Story by Denise Hruby

Chefs Val and Nando Chang at the counter of the original Itamae at the former St. Roch Market (now MIA Market), where they opened in 2018. Val Chang hosted the James Beard Foundation at her restaurant, Maty’s, on Jan. 22 to discuss how climate change is disrupting the restaurant and farming industries. By MATIAS J. OCNER

NO. 3: RISING PRICES ON SOUTH FLORIDA MENUS? RISING COSTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE CONTRIBUTE

“Climate change has a direct impact on the supply chain that your favorite chefs depend on.” | Published January 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ashley Miznazi

The lowest-lying streets in Key Biscayne flood about 15 times a year now, and without fixes, some spots could see up to 90 days of flooding every year by 2040, consultants from AECOM found. By 2070, some of the streets could be permanently underwater. By Jessica Drouet

NO. 4: AS SEA-RISE FLOODS INCREASE, KEY BISCAYNE TO RAISE ROADS. BIG PRICE TAG RUFFLES RESIDENTS

Without fixes, some roads could be underwater every day by 2070. | Published January 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alex Harris

A large brush fire on Card Sound Road in south Miami-Dade near Florida City on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, has closed Card Sound Road and led to intermittent closures of U.S. 1 heading into the Florida Keys. As of Wednesday, only about 20 percent of the fire was contained. By David Goodhue

NO. 5: A HEADACHE FOR HUMANS, STUBBORN FIRE IS ACTUALLY GOOD FOR EVERGLADES WETLANDS

Florida is a leader in prescribed burns, which helps keep neighborhoods safe from runaway blazes. | Published March 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alex Harris David Goodhue

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.