Charlotte County may team up to fight climate change locally

Charlotte County has been asked to join a group of counties and cities in a unified effort to address the effects of global warming.

That request was made 13 months ago. Today, Charlotte County commissioners will be asked to vote on the agreement — a regional climate resiliency accord.

Commissioners are scheduled to vote on a three-county multi-municipality compact during their regular meeting at 9 a.m. today at 18500 Murdock Circle. Commission Chair Bill Truex of Englewood has already asked to represent the county on that compact, if it forms.

They may be the first governmental body to vote on the 2½-page memorandum of understanding, Assistant County Administrator Claire Jubb told the Beaches and Shores Advisory Committee last week.

Jubb and other county staff have been meeting with staff and officials from Lee and Collier counties and their cities on this project. Faculty from Florida Gulf Coast University’s Water School have been organizing the debate.

If formed, it would be the fourth such compact in the state, with three others representing governments from north central Florida to the Keys.