‘Underwater’ homeowners group promotes climate change action

PINECREST, Fla. (AP) — The “Underwater Homeowners Association” sounds like a sad joke about the future of real estate in flood-prone Miami.

It’s actually an earnest, block-by-block effort to turn neighbors into climate change advocates.

Starting in his own affluent suburb of Pinecrest, artist Xavier Cortada hopes his concept will spread, helping people nationwide understand that melting polar ice is no abstract threat.

Cortada repurposes “for sale” signs, painting partially-submerged numbers that announce exactly how many feet above sea level each property is, for people to plant in their front yards. A growing number of members have signed on at underwaterhoa.org since Cortada launched the project in December.

The main idea is to encourage neighbors to discuss climate change amongst themselves, and then take action locally. What happens next is up to each group.