Miami’s climate resilience team yields to the young

A parade of youth activists helped persuade Miami commissioners to add young voting members to the city’s Climate Resilience Committee.

At its last meeting the commission first OK’d the change. Second and final reading is expected May 12. With the change, two of the nine appointed members must be in the 18 to 25 age range.

The original proposal would have added two youths to make the committee 11 members, and the mayor would have made those appointments. Ken Russell moved to approve the resolution. Joe Carollo favored adding young members but wanted them to be among the nine committee positions, and not added, and Mr. Russell agreed to the amendment.

The final version is being written to require two young voting members appointed by commissioners to the nine-member committee. The first of those appointments is expected to be by Chair Christine King, who vowed to do so.

The young adults to be added are to have “a strong interest in and background or education in climate resilience including but not limited to impacts on infrastructure, water supply and quality, ecosystem health, housing, socioeconomics, or advocacy for vulnerable low-income communities,” the resolution says.

The move came after numerous youths spoke before the commission asking for representation on the committee, arguing their generation will be the most affected by climate change.

Laura Seacourse told commissioners: “The climate movement is youth led … We can no longer kick the can down the road… If we don’t see our solutions being encouraged in this city, how can you expect us to buy homes here and sign 30-year mortgages? How can you expect us to build businesses, and build our headquarters, in a city that might be under water in our lifetime?

“Our future depends on a partnership between our generations, and incentives for youth to develop solutions,” she said.

Kyra Ellis said, “Ambitious and innovative young people are crucial to solving the current and future issues that Miami is facing.”