A life-sized statue of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was unveiled in Tallahassee and designed to melt, revealing a skull beneath the likeness, in a protest against his record on climate change. The statue, cast from gallium, a metal with a low melting point of 85.6°F (29.8°C), began to deteriorate shortly after its unveiling on October 13, symbolizing the environmental group 350Action’s criticism of DeSantis’s eight years in office, which end in January. The group, along with advertising agency Uncommon, highlighted DeSantis’s past criticisms of a “radical climate agenda,” his efforts to remove climate terminology from Florida law, and his resistance to policies aimed at reducing planet-heating pollution.
DeSantis signed legislation in 2024, HB 1645, which removed the term “climate change” from Florida statutes and restricted offshore wind turbines. He has repeatedly stated his skepticism about climate change, saying in 2018, “I am not a global warming person.” This stance comes as Southern Florida faces increasing threats from sea level rise and intensified hurricanes, leading to rising insurance costs and some insurers exiting the state.
The protest coincides with the upcoming midterm elections, where Republican Byron Donalds is heavily favored to succeed DeSantis as governor. Donalds has also expressed skepticism about the link between climate change and extreme weather events, telling E&E News in 2023, “No I don’t” believe there is a correlation. Democratic nominee David Jolly has called for greater investment in environmental protection. Candice Fortin, campaign manager at 350Action, stated, “The climate crisis is one of the top issues facing our planet today. And yet, some candidates running for office still deny it’s happening, and deny the bold climate action that the people want.” DeSantis defended his position, stating, “We’re restoring sanity in our approach to energy and rejecting the agenda of the radical green zealots.”
Our reading is that this protest is a deliberate attempt to visually connect DeSantis’s past statements and legislative actions on climate change with potential environmental consequences. The melting statue, timed to coincide with an election, is clearly intended to be a symbolic representation of the group’s criticism of his policies. The contrast between the statue’s initial form and the skull it reveals underscores the severity of the environmental concerns being raised, and the differing coverage highlights the media’s varying emphasis on the protest’s core message.
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