Among Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s favorite activities since he took office is pooh-poohing climate change initiatives while, almost surreptitiously, working to conserve swathes of the state he represents. Now, a group of environmental activists has found a way to make him sweat.
A life-size statue of the Republican governor was unveiled in Tallahassee last week, only to begin melting in the Florida sunshine. As DeSantis’s silver-colored face slowly slipped away, a dastardly-looking skull appeared underneath. According to The Guardian, it was all part of the plan.
The installation, titled DENIAL, was made from gallium, a metal that melts at just 85.6 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature that Florida residents are more than familiar with.
The work was organized by environmental group 350 Action, advertising agency Uncommon, and too-cleverly named production company M ss ng P eces. Its message was fairly simple: Climate change is real, whether the governor wants to acknowledge it or not.
DeSantis, whose second and final term ends in January, has been a vocal opponent of climate policies he considers excessive. In 2024, he signed legislation that removed references to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions from Florida law and limited the ability of local governments to pursue certain environmental policies.
“We’re restoring sanity in our approach to energy and rejecting the agenda of the radical green zealots,” DeSantis wrote on X at the time.
Florida, of course, has plenty of reasons to worry about rising temperatures. The state faces growing risks from sea-level rise and ferocious hurricanes. Then of course there’s soaring insurance costs, which have become a serious problem for homeowners.
The activists behind DENIAL also had an eye on November’s elections. With DeSantis leaving office, they hope the disappearing sculpture will encourage voters to consider where candidates stand on climate policy.
“The climate crisis is one of the top issues facing our planet today,” Candice Fortin, campaign manager at 350 Action, told The Guardian. She argued that candidates who reject climate action should face the consequences at the ballot box. The installation, it seems, was as much a political advertisement as a work of public art, designed to deliver its message before the whole thing melts away.