California Climate Adaptation Strategy

California Climate Adaptation Strategy
Name	California Climate Adaptation Strategy
Jurisdiction	California
Established	2018
Related	California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), California Natural Resources Agency, California Air Resources Board, Governor of California

California Climate Adaptation Strategy The California Climate Adaptation Strategy is a statewide planning framework designed to prepare California for escalating hazards linked to climate change such as drought, wildfire, sea level rise, and extreme heat. It synthesizes mandates from statutes including AB 32 and Senate Bill 375, coordinates actions across agencies such as CalEPA and the California Natural Resources Agency, and aligns with federal initiatives like Presidential Climate Action Plan and multilateral efforts such as the Paris Agreement.

Background and Policy Framework

California’s adaptation planning builds on landmark laws and executive orders including AB 32, Senate Bill 100, Senate Bill 1078, and executive directives issued by successive Governor of California administrations. Agencies involved include California Air Resources Board, California Department of Water Resources, CalFire, California Department of Transportation, and the California Energy Commission. The strategy references federal counterparts such as the National Climate Assessment, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and aligns with regional planning guided by entities like the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Association of Bay Area Governments. Stakeholder processes incorporate input from The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, tribal governments including Yurok Tribe and Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, local governments such as City of Los Angeles and City of San Francisco, and academic partners like University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, and California State University, Sacramento.

Climate Risks and Vulnerabilities in California

California faces diverse climate hazards: prolonged drought affecting Central Valley, intensified wildfire regimes across Sierra Nevada and Santa Monica Mountains, sea level rise impacting San Francisco Bay and Los Angeles Harbor, and heat waves hitting urban cores like Sacramento and Long Beach. Vulnerabilities intersect with infrastructure such as the State Water Project, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station decommissioning sites, transportation networks including Interstate 5 and U.S. Route 101, and coastal assets like the Port of Oakland and Port of Los Angeles. Social exposure concentrates among communities in regions represented by Los Angeles County, Imperial County, Fresno County, and tribal lands including Hoopa Valley Reservation and Pala Band of Mission Indians, with socioeconomic factors highlighted by research from Public Policy Institute of California, Rand Corporation, and California Legislative Analyst's Office.

Adaptation Goals and Priorities

The strategy sets cross-cutting goals: protect public health in collaboration with California Department of Public Health, secure water supply managed by Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and East Bay Municipal Utility District, enhance ecosystem resilience within Channel Islands National Park and Yosemite National Park landscapes, and fortify infrastructure overseen by California Department of Transportation and California State Water Resources Control Board. Priorities include equitable planning influenced by California Environmental Justice Alliance, disaster preparedness coordinated with Federal Emergency Management Agency, and climate-smart land use engaging California Coastal Commission and regional planning agencies such as SANDAG.

Sectoral Adaptation Measures

Water resources: supply diversification strategies reference projects at Shasta Dam, Los Vaqueros Reservoir, managed aquifer recharge in Antelope Valley, and conservation programs from Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and East Bay Municipal Utility District. Forestry and fire: fuel reduction and prescribed burn programs involve CalFire, tribal stewardship by Karuk Tribe and Yurok Tribe, and research from US Forest Service, University of California, Davis, and US Geological Survey. Coastal and marine: managed retreat, living shoreline projects, and protection of infrastructure at Port of San Diego and Golden Gate Bridge are coordinated with California Coastal Commission and National Marine Fisheries Service. Public health and communities: heat mitigation and cooling centers link California Department of Public Health with city programs in Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Jose; social equity programs collaborate with California Environmental Justice Alliance and Public Advocates. Transportation and energy: resilience upgrades for Caltrans corridors, grid hardening by utilities like Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison, and energy storage investments involving California Energy Commission and California Independent System Operator support continuity. Agriculture and ecosystems: soil moisture management on lands of Central Valley Project beneficiaries, habitat connectivity projects in Sierra Nevada and Mojave Desert, and species conservation programs with California Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Implementation, Governance, and Funding

Implementation leverages state agencies including CalEPA, California Natural Resources Agency, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, and regional entities like Bay Conservation and Development Commission. Governance frameworks integrate statutory requirements from Senate Bill 246 and procurement via Department of General Services (California). Funding streams combine state bonds such as Proposition 68 and Proposition 1, cap-and-trade revenues administered by California Air Resources Board, federal assistance from Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, and philanthropic support from foundations including Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Public-private partnerships involve utilities like Pacific Gas and Electric Company and technology firms in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research Needs

Monitoring relies on data from California Climate Change Center, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, NOAA, and US Geological Survey to track indicators such as streamflow at Sacramento River, snowpack in Sierra Nevada, and sea level at San Francisco Bay. Evaluation metrics align with goals set by California Natural Resources Agency and reporting to the Governor of California; adaptive management cycles are informed by research from Stanford University, University of California, Los Angeles, California Polytechnic State University, and federal partners like National Science Foundation. Priority research needs include improved downscaling from global models such as those used in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, socioeconomic impact assessment by Public Policy Institute of California and RAND Corporation, and integration of traditional ecological knowledge from tribal partners including Yurok Tribe and Karuk Tribe. Ongoing monitoring, community-based science coordinated with organizations like California Conservation Corps and data platforms such as Western Regional Climate Center will be essential to iterate strategies and measure outcomes.

Category:Climate change in California