Financial Drivers and Urban Coastal Development in Miami, Florida

Abstract

Miami Dade County (MDC) urban centers have a unique geographic location between Biscayne Bay and the massive wetlands of the Everglades. Water can come from both sides of MDC as well as percolate up from the groundwater. Sea level rise (SLR) impacts all of these connected sources of water, meaning Miami will be faced with more severe and frequent flooding into the foreseeable future. This chapter will explain the connection between urban development, the expenditure of funds, and the role of financing. Financing is the underlying requirement to convert development planning into development action; thus, recovery from disasters requires linking environmental issues back to the financial system.