Ron DeSantis’s climate bill has nothing to do with Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton has left more than two million homes and businesses in Florida without power and threatens to be a mortal threat for those in its path. But for some, the hurricane also appears to a very large stick with which to beat Florida governor Ron DeSantis for scrapping the state’s climate change goals.

A bill, which DeSantis signed in May, removed climate change as a priority in state energy policy and cut the word ‘climate’ from several pieces of state legislation. It banned offshore wind turbines and watered down obligations on state agencies to use products deemed to be green. It also set in motion the repealing of the target to ensure that 100 per cent of the state’s energy comes from renewable sources by 2050.

DeSantis’ shake-up was, needless to say, a red rag to a bull for climate campaigners, who have been busily reminding everyone about the act over the past few days. One,