South Florida has been in the news lately as a model of regional planning for climate change.  Of note is the work they are doing on adaptation to sea level rise and the impacts it will have on that region.  Four Counties with different land use patterns with a combined population of 5.6 million have formed the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Compact.

The effort grew out of a realization - while the counties were on a DC lobbying trip - that they had common interests in the issue of coastal hazards and maybe they should combine forces.  The work also resulted in an innovative state law creating "adaptation action areas" that could be designated by localities in their long range plans as areas experiencing flooding and needed special attention.

For those of us struggling to put regional efforts in place to deal with sea level rise and storm inundation, this is an excellent model of organizing around these coastal issues.