An Artful Move to Call Out Ron DeSantis’ Hostility Toward Climate Action
This story was originally published by the Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. A life-sized statue of Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor, was unveiled and promptly began melting in front of an audience in Tallahassee in a symbolic protest at his rejection of action on the climate crisis. The silvery statue, revealed to an audience […]
As Ron DeSantis, the Republican governor of Florida, prepares to step down from office in January, a provocative protest has been staged in Tallahassee to highlight his public opposition to climate action. The climate advocacy group 350 Action unveiled a life-sized statue of DeSantis, made from gallium—a metal with a melting point of 85.6°F, which causes it to melt at summer temperatures common in Florida.
As the statue's face melted away to reveal a skull, it became a striking symbol of DeSantis’s record as governor, which is marked by his repeated rejection of climate change and its scientific consensus.
The Republican governor has frequently criticized what he terms a "radical climate agenda," leading to the state blocking municipalities from implementing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and even passing a law prohibiting the use of terms like "climate change" and "greenhouse gas emissions" in state law. This legislative action has hindered state agencies from acknowledging the climate crisis, which is particularly dire for Florida, given its vulnerability to sea-level rise and powerful hurricanes exacerbated by rising global temperatures.
The environmentalists behind the protest argue that DeSantis's stance on climate change is not just a personal political preference but a denial of scientific facts. They urge voters to reject this denial by casting their ballots in the upcoming midterm elections, emphasizing that their collective voices will be too loud to be ignored.
The installation, dubbed “DENIAL,” was a collaborative effort between 350 Action, advertising agency Uncommon, and production company M ss ng P eces, all committed to raising awareness about climate action.
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