The Natural Resources Defense Council thinks states like Florida should start preparing for problems caused by climate change -- rising coastal waters and interior droughts -- even if they don't believe climate change is real.
Ben Chou* -- the author of a new state-by-state analysis of climate change readiness -- tells WUSF that even non-believers can get behind the idea of better safe than sorry.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and in the long run the costs of not preparing for climate change far outweigh the costs of planning now," he said.
Chou says that Florida, surrounded on three sides by water, could be doing a lot more to prepare for things like sea level rise caused by climate change.
He also says Florida needs to plan for potential drinking water shortages brought on by higher evaporation rates due to increased temperatures. Chou say Tampa Bay Water has actually started doing some preliminary planning for that.
*This story was updated at 11 a.m. Friday to correct Chou's first name.
