California water regulators relaxed mandatory conservation targets for local agencies, proposing to allow local agencies to self-certify their available water supplies and the level of conservation they deem necessary. In an executive order, Governor Brown also made permanent various drought measures for residents and businesses. The recalibrated approach signals Brown's interest in pivoting from temporary measures toward more lasting strategies to prepare for the longer and more severe droughts that are expected as a result of climate change. ( Desert Sun)

While a wetter-than-average winter in northern California replenished snowpack, the precipitation also increased fuel load by increasing plant growth, according to the latest outlook from the National Interagency Fire Center. An above-normal crop of annual grasses and other perennial vegetation could dry out by summer, leading to above-normal wildland fire potential in the lower elevations of the Sacramento Valley in July and August. ( NIFC)

Photo: Stephane Mahe/Reuters

Last month was the hottest April on record globally - and the seventh month in a row to have broken global temperature records. The latest figures smashed the previous record for April by the largest margin ever recorded, making it three months in a row that the monthly record has been broken by the largest margin ever. When the string of record-smashing months started in February, scientists began talking about a "climate emergency". It all but assures that 2016 will be the hottest year on record, and probably by the largest margin ever. Meanwhile, carbon dioxide concentrations at Mauna Loa (the Keeling curve) may never dip below 400 parts per million again. ( Guardian)

A climate scientist created a powerful new visualization of the pace and urgency of climate change. By illustrating existing data on the annual and monthly change in global average temperatures in a simple way, the animation is understandable to everyone without any need for jargon or chart reading. ( Washington Post)

As India reels from an extreme drought, the World Bank has released a new report warning that perhaps the most severe impact of a changing climate c ould be the impact on water supplies. At the same time that climate change disrupts supply, making some areas of the world much drier, water demand will be increasing significantly as a result of population growth. The global food system will require 40 to 50 percent more water in the next 30 years, municipal and industrial 50 to 70 percent more, and the energy sector 85 percent, leaving little left for the environment. The report is unique in that it ties water scarcity to economic impacts, warning that there may be sudden crises and other destabilizing factors such as poverty and division. ( WashPost )

Credit: AGWA

Ten years ago, a World Bank economist and a South African engineer wrote that humans will experience most of the impacts of climate change through water. A WWF-US CEO argued in 2009 that "the very language of climate change is the language of water." The increased emphasis on climate and water reflects a growing awareness in boardrooms and by decision makers that for most businesses, water flows through manufacturing and supply chains, energy (thermal as well as hydro and biofuels), agriculture, and transportation. At the negotiations in Paris, the #ClimateIsWater campaign emphasized that water is not a sector but a connector - flowing through and linking communities, economies, companies, and ecosystems. ( Forbes)

A proposed $12 parcel tax per year in the nine Bay Area counties would help restore tidal marshes and secure protection against sea-level rise, which is expected to increase significantly and threaten neighborhoods, highways, and airports. Critics of the tax say that it disadvantages low-income residents, as all homeowners would pay the same tax, no matter the size or location of the property. The measure needs a two-thirds majority to pass. ( KQED)

Climate change is already harming people's health by promoting illnesses linked to warmer temperatures and changing weather patterns, says a leading group of U.S. doctors in a new position paper. Respiratory illnesses, heat stroke, and infectious diseases like Zika, dengue fever, and cholera are flourishing with the rise of global temperatures. As a result, the American College of Physicians (ACP) is calling for aggressive, concerted action to fight climate change. It is urging its physician members to speak out for climate change policies in their communities and to promote energy efficiency in their own practices. ( US News)

This multi-year program will encourage mid-sized cities, counties, and federally recognized tribes to convene multi-sector partnerships in support of positive health change. Awardees will receive community seed grants and will be offered technical assistance, subject matter expertise, and online educational opportunities throughout the challenge.  ( Learn more)

Are you ready to join a team committed to keeping the California Air Resources Board at the forefront of global climate change policy?  The Climate Action and Research Planning Section has an immediate opening for a motivated staff person to lead the agency's efforts to support voluntary implementation of California's climate change goals, with an emphasis on local government. ( Link)

Help us identify Champions who are enabling low-income and underserved communities to prepare for, adapt to, and thrive in the face of climate change. Nominations are due Friday, June 10, 2016. ( Link)

The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory is seeking innovative grant proposals for program development, study, and collaboration that will address strategies in the National Ten Year Urban Forestry Action Plan. This program will provide $75,000-300,000 to increase city and community forestry. Deadline: June 17, 2016. ( USDA)

The Local Government Commission is conducting a formal Call for Session Proposals for the 2017 New Partners for Smart Growth Conference. The organizers are looking for interactive session proposals of all types under thematic categories such as community resilience and energy independence, equitable development and environmental justice, and transportation. Conference organizers are placing an emphasis on sessions that focus on implementation, or provide training or instruction on the use of practical tools and technologies and the application of innovative strategies and resources. Deadline: June 30, 2016. ( Link)

The American Society for Adaptation Professionals - in partnership with the California Adaptation Forum - is launching its first Regional Adaptation Leadership Award competition at the California Adaptation Forum. The Award will recognize one individual who has distinguished her- or himself in the climate change adaptation field through exceptional leadership. Nominations are due July 1, 2016. ( Link)

CivicSpark is now accepting project applications for the 2016-17 service year! CivicSpark helps local governments build their climate response capacity by working directly with local staff or in the community on projects that address their larger climate action goals. Local government agencies or non-governmental organizations can contract directly with LGC for Civicspark fellows to support projects and programs. Priority deadline: July 1, 2016. ( Link)

Our built environment serves as the backbone of the region, but is vulnerable to extreme heat, flooding, and other impacts of climate change. During this meeting, you will have the opportunity to hear about innovative efforts to protect our built environment and build a more sustainable and resilient future, including projects pursuing Living Building Certification and Zero Net Energy affordable housing. We will also have the opportunity to share other efforts that are occurring in the region to develop more resilient and robust infrastructure. ( Register)

Complete streets are designed to encourage travel behavior changes to promote health benefits but there is little evidence of whether or how these changes take place. This seminar will present a study comparing complete streets to incomplete streets to investigate their impact on travel behavior and street users' exposure to traffic-related air pollutants. ( ARB)

Food waste may be among the greatest of the many growing challenges to food system sustainability, decreasing food availability, stressing waste management systems, and increasing GHG emissions. Speakers from Arizona State University and the City of Phoenix will discuss the problems of wasted food, the issues embedded in consumer behaviors, the potential for public-private collaboration to implement regional system solutions, and the great potential in partnerships between universities and cities. ( Register) 

As the rates of allergies, asthma, and vector-borne diseases continue to rise, Americans are becoming more reliant on health professionals for information. We invite you to find out how climate change affects health and what we can do to care for and protect personal and community health in this webinar series from the American Public Health Association and ecoAmerica. Learn about how climate change affects children's health (May 26), healthy community design and transportation (June 7), and mental health (June 29). ( Register)

Professor Dennis Baldocchi (UC Berkeley) and Professor Louise Jackson (UC Davis) will speak  on the role of agriculture in California's climate change scoping plan.  ( Register)

Registration is now open for the 7th annual Statewide Energy Efficiency Forum, offered at no cost to California local governments. The forum will feature updates from key state agencies, highlight innovative local energy and climate change programs, offer capacity-building trainings, and provide several networking opportunities. ( Register) 

In April 2016, more than 175 nations signed the Paris Agreement. Join us to learn about the key elements of the Paris Agreement, the major challenges that remain for successful implementation, the prospective role to be played by carbon markets, heterogeneous international linkage and implications for industry and subnational government. ( ACCO)