Beauty comes naturally to Greater Miami & Miami Beach. There’s something so special about the destination’s turquoise waters, picture-perfect beaches and lush, tropical landscapes that everyone should want to keep it that way for future generations to enjoy.

Preserving paradise isn’t easy, but it’s a charge municipalities all over the destination take seriously. In fact, many have enacted bold initiatives and proactive plans to help Miami become more resilient and eco-friendly. Locals and visitors can also do their part by making small yet responsible decisions that collectively make a significant impact.

Traveling Sustainably in Miami

Miami International Airport

Miami offers the chance for everyone to travel green, from flying into the destination to getting around with sustainable transportation. At Miami International Airport, it’s the things you might not necessarily notice that matter, including the use of energy-efficient lighting as well as heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system upgrades throughout the space. It’s all part of The Sustainability Project, the largest energy conservation initiative in Florida. A quick tip: Families traveling through the airport can grab a Fly Green Activity Book, a great way to keep children entertained while learning about conservation and sustainable practices.

Public Transportation

Once you’ve landed, instead of using a car, opt for Miami’s efficient and convenient public transit, like the Tri-Rail commuter train or the high-speed Brightline passenger train. Both systems weave through Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Designed to work together, the electrically-powered Metromover, the Metrorail train and the Metrobus are other great options. Try the free trolley system, which allows riders to see many of the destination’s sights, or Freebee, an on-demand electric golf cart transportation system that services many areas around Miami, including Mid Beach, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove and Key Biscayne. If you’d like to save energy while also getting in a workout, zip off on a bike to the destination’s top attractions. The City of Miami has added more than 30 miles of bike lanes as well as a Citi Bike sharing and rental program with over 165 solar-powered bike stations.

PortMiami

Miami-Dade County will soon have one of the largest electric public transit fleets in the nation with more than 60 battery-powered electric buses already in service and more on the horizon. Shore power is also catching on with cruise ships, as they’ll soon be able to plug into the electric grid when docked at PortMiami.

Sustainable and Locally Sourced Dining

When it comes to dining, you can also choose to support restaurants that focus on serving sustainable and locally sourced foods. Leading the charge for fair food and the support of local growers and artisanal food makers is Slow Food USA. Throughout the year, the local chapter hosts public events where the proceeds support local school and community gardens. In an effort to shine a light on eating local seafood, Slow Fish MIami is another aspect of the program that coordinates beach cleanups to keep local waters safe and clean for marine life, as well as community events that offer the chance for locals and visitors to meet sustainable seafood farmers and sample their products. There are also film screenings and panel discussions by Sereia Films that dive into ocean conservation and highlight our destination’s seafood options.

Conservation Efforts in Miami

When it comes to government agencies and local communities in Miami, teamwork makes the dream work.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava

Setting the destination apart, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava appointed the world’s first chief heat officer as well as the county’s first chief bay officer, both roles focusing on the health of treasured Biscayne Bay. As climate change continues, the mayor has also enacted groundbreaking strategies that protect vulnerable residents from the impact of extreme heat, including the installation of 1,700 energy-efficient air conditioners in Miami-Dade County’s public housing units. A partnership agreement was also made with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to provide matching support of up to $200,000 toward tree planting at schools in neighborhoods most vulnerable to high heat indexes.

Resilient 305

Miami is leading the way in climate change mitigation and sustainability efforts. Resilient 305 (a three-way collaboration between the City of Miami, the City of Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County) was selected by The Rockefeller Foundation in 2016 as part of its international 100 Resilient Cities initiative to provide resources and guidance to help the region identify and address its urban resilience challenges. One example of this powerful partnership is the group effort to preserve Biscayne Bay, with all entities adopting ordinances that restrict fertilizer use to prevent nutrient pollution from harming the bay’s wildlife.

City of Miami

The City of Miami is developing Resilience Hubs, located in Charles Hadley Park and Esther Mae Armbrister Park, which will serve as cooling and resource centers for residents after a hurricane. The city is also taking action to reduce greenhouse gasses and has set a goal to reduce carbon emissions by 60% by 2035 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050. In accordance with the Building Efficiency 305 program, the City of Miami requires large buildings to regularly report energy and water use to build awareness and motivate changes to increase efficiency.

City of Miami Beach

The City of Miami Beach’s initiatives aimed at helping residents include the Fight the Flood Private Property Adaptation (PPA) Program. With this program, Miami Beach residential and commercial property owners may qualify to receive up to $20,000 in funding for a property risk assessment as well as improvements like floodproofing, home elevation and green infrastructure. “We want to help Miami Beach residents begin to adapt to the effects of climate change, like storm surges and increased rainfall, along with rising groundwater and sea levels,” City of Miami Beach Chief Resilience Officer Amy Knowles said. The city was also awarded a FEMA Community Rating Score of 5, which resulted in a 25% flood insurance premium reduction for most policyholders. In 2023, the city replaced its former zoning code with the Resilience Code, which further addresses climate adaptation and resilience. The 2040 Comprehensive Plan showcases bold climate strategies, including public infrastructure, green infrastructure and private property adaptation. “Miami Beach continues to receive national publicity and interest for its resilience planning and early actions to fund investments,” Knowles said.

Climate Action Strategy

To address the causes of climate change and its impacts, Miami-Dade County now has an ambitious Climate Action Strategy, which tackles current issues and looming threats on multiple fronts. The plan aims to slash Miami-Dade’s greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 (from 2019 levels) and accomplish net zero by 2050.

Sea Level Rise Strategy

The county also created a bold Sea Level Rise Strategy to help combat erosion and storm surges in the destination’s beaches, parks and green spaces. Healthy dunes, native plants and natural areas can help block waves, collect excess water and reduce stormwater runoff. To help adapt to rising sea levels, the strategy requires county projects to be designed for future sea level rise, meet updated building codes and seawall elevation standards, and monitor future development to avoid flooding neighboring properties. It also addresses the county’s vulnerable septic systems, provides better preparation for disaster recovery, increases affordable housing options for low-risk areas and helps those who may be displaced from high-risk areas.

Plastic Reduction Initiatives

To cut down on plastic pollution in Miami’s cherished waterways, businesses can make a difference by joining the voluntary Plastic Free 305 program to reduce or eliminate the use of single-use plastics as well as by joining other initiatives, such as Plastic Free Miami Beach and Greener Coral Way.

Green Spaces

It’s also now easier for residents to enjoy all of Miami’s parks, trails and conservation areas thanks to the Miami-Dade County Parks and Open Spaces Master Plan, a project that aims to provide locals with easy access to plenty of green spaces.

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