The Climate Change and Health Profile Reports are designed to help counties in California prepare for climate health impacts through adaptation planning. The reports present projections for county and regional climate impacts, the related health risks, and vulnerable local populations. The California Department of Public Health invites local public health agencies and their partners to use these reports to inform their efforts to address climate change and public health in their counties and regions. ( CDPH)

The San Francisco Department of Public Health released its Climate and Health Adaptation Framework describing the connection between climate change and local health impacts and outlining a set of potential solutions. Recommended response strategies include the deployment of a sensor network to provide real-time monitoring of air quality and enhanced weather-related warnings for vulnerable populations. The Framework complements citywide efforts underway to make San Francisco's infrastructure and residents more resilient in the face of climate risks. Next, SFDPH will conduct public outreach to understand existing community concerns about climate change and priority health issues. ( Link)

The number of people exposed to unhealthy air has fallen steeply in recent years, but short-term spikes in fine-particle pollution have worsened in some areas and climate change could impede further progress, according to the American Lung Association's annual report, State of the Air 2017. Californian cities make up the majority of the Top 10 cities with the worst ozone and particulate matter pollution, however, and 90 percent of Californians live in areas with unhealthy air at some point during the year. While many cities improved their air quality, the fine particulate matter resulting from wildfire smoke and high inversions have become part of the year-round burden, instead of just short-term problems. ( Link)

Urban trees are dying so rapidly across southern California that in a few years the region could be much less pleasant, warns the U.S. Forest Service in a new report. Insect and disease have been the primary culprits, but drought, water restrictions, higher salinity levels in recycled water, and other factors also play a role. One particularly dangerous menace, the polyphagous shot hole borer beetle, could kill as many as 27 million trees in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties - 38 percent of the region's trees, with consequences for health, well-being, property values, energy use, carbon storage, air quality, and wildlife habitat. Without control, the shot hole borer could eventually decimate all of California's native sycamores. The federal response to the invasive insects has been slow, however, because urban forests don't support logging crews and regional economies. ( LA Times)

Using the field of marine conservation as an example, a marine biologist argues that an unrelenting focus on "doom and gloom" problems in the absence of solutions leads to apathy, not to action. Many success stories are actually unknown to other practitioners, and sharing and celebrating solutions can help motivate and provide direction for people. ( Nature)

Everyday actions by cities and citizens can make a huge impact in addressing climate change - after all, your local community has control and influence over many factors related to GHG emissions, such as land use planning, public transit, building codes, renewable energy developments, and more. With help from the Sierra Club, C40 Climate Leaders, and Environment America, this article rounds up a thoughtful list of concrete actions that you can do and ways to get involved with your community. ( Curbed)  

Major storms and natural disasters have intensified the national dialogue on emergency power for critical health care systems. This monograph aims to further discussions on emergency power best practices by considering lessons learned from previous disasters, explaining how to assess vulnerabilities, and suggesting new ways to safeguard emergency power through new technologies and innovative protocols that leverage enhanced information sharing. ( Link) 

The National Academies convened an expert committee to consider solutions that could be implemented at the local or community level to advance health equity. In this resulting report, the committee identifies major elements of effective or promising solutions and their key levers, policies, stakeholders, and other elements needed to be successful. The committee provides 9 examples of community-driven, multi-sectoral, evidence-based solutions that address health inequities, and recommends that all government agencies that conduct planning around land use, housing, transportation, and other areas that affect populations at high risk of health inequity should consider the intended and unintended health effects of all policies. ( NAP)

Over the past two years, the Local Government Commission's Governor's Initiative AmeriCorps CivicSpark program has provided 130,000+ hours of support to over 100 public agencies, while implementing 80 projects in climate change and water policy. In Sacramento, CivicSpark fellows have been working to increase food waste recycling and reduce its associated GHG emissions and support low-income home weatherization, among other activities. The second priority deadline to apply for projects is May 30th. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis after this deadline. ( Link)

When infrastructure projects are carefully conceived to cut across multiple sectors, and involve the community, their impact is exponential, making them fundamental building blocks of more resilient cities and societies. Partnering with AECOM, 100 Resilient Cities will recognize resilience-building infrastructure projects - 10 projects globally that are either underway or completed, and 10 shovel-ready projects in the US - that have these qualities and can address the most pressing challenges of our time. These projects lay the foundation for the next generation of economic development, environmental shifts, and population change. What shovel-ready infrastructure projects in the United States have this potential? Share a submission with 100 Resilient Cities by May 5, 2017, 5pm PST. ( Link)

Applications are now open for the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC) Program to protect agricultural land and reduce GHG emissions. Last year, the SALC awarded over $37 million to 20 projects, protecting over 19,000 acres. Interested organizations are encouraged to submit a pre-proposal by June 1 to receive technical assistance. Interested landowners should contact a land trust in their area to begin the application process. Pre-proposal deadline June 1, final deadline August 1. ( Link)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is offering Fire Prevention and Safety grant assistance to support the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and emergency medical service organizations. The first category focuses on projects and activities designed to reach high-risk target groups and mitigate incidences of death and injuries, such as community risk reduction, code enforcement, fire and arson awareness, and local, state, and federal programs and studies. Category two will support research and development activities aimed at improving firefighter safety. Up to $1.5 million is available per applicant with a minimum of a 5% match. Deadline: May 19, 5pm ET. ( FEMA)

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has a grant solicitation for applicants to implement the Car Sharing and Mobility Options Pilot Project for Fiscal Year 2016-17. This is one of several CARB-funded pilot projects that will employ innovative solutions to bring the benefits of clean transportation to disadvantaged communities. Deadline: May 22. ( Link)

This program will award funding for projects that mitigate the environmental effects of transportation facilities (such as roads, stations, ports, airports, and transit). Eligible project types include urban forestry projects designed to offset vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. A grant workshop will be held in Sacramento on May 11. Deadline: 5pm, June 21. ( CNRA)

California public fleets in disadvantaged communities can apply for 2017 rebate funding for new, eligible zero-emission and plug-in hybrid light-duty vehicles. The Public Fleet Pilot Project has $3 million available, with rebates up to $15,000 per vehicle. Fleets may reserve rebate funding at any stage in the procurement process up to six months in advance of expected delivery to six months after delivery. Check your ZIP code to determine eligibility; ineligible fleets can still receive standard Clean Vehicle Rebate Project rebates of up to $2,500 per vehicle. ( Link)        

"Cool' (high albedo) pavements represent one part of sustainable, cool community programs that - alongside other strategies like urban forestry, solar PV, and cool roofs - help cities, regions, and the state meet GHG emission reduction and sustainable communities goals. While cool pavements can reduce GHG emissions from building energy use, mitigate urban heat islands, and improve air quality in cities, it is also important to consider the environmental consequences of pavement materials and pavement construction, and thus the life-cycle environmental impacts. Speakers are Dr. Ronnen Levinson of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Dr. John Harvey of UC Davis. ( ARB, webcast)

Kendra Briechle of the Conservation Fund will look at how rural communities are carrying out smart growth principles by investing in their downtowns, expanding transportation choices, creating economic opportunities and protecting the cultural and natural resources of rural landscapes. ( Link)

The Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program (ICARP) Technical Advisory Council was established to coordinate state, regional, and local climate adaptation efforts, and support local implementation. The ICARP has now established two workgroups: The Visioning and Principles Workgroup, which met May 1, will develop a draft adaptation vision for California, including principles and definitions, and the Financing Studies Workgroup will define the purpose and audience for financing/funding case studies. Both workgroups will meet via webinar, and all materials can be found on the Technical Advisory Council webpage. ( Link)

As directed by SB 350, the Air Resources Board (ARB) has undertaken a public process to identify barriers to accessing zero- and near-zero emissions transportation for low-income residents and understand how to overcome those barriers. ARB has described its results in the Draft SB 350 Clean Transportation Access Guidance Document, now available for public review, which identifies main barriers, makes recommendations, and provides a pathway to overcome barriers to clean transportation and mobility options. At this roundtable, ARB staff will discuss and seek input on the draft guidance document. ( ARB)

The "greening" of cities can focus on everything except nature, emphasizing such elements as public transit, renewable energy production, and energy efficient building systems. While these are important aspects of reimagining urban living, human beings have an innate need to connect with the natural world (the biophilia hypothesis). And any vision of a sustainable urban future must place its focus squarely on nature, on the presence, conservation, and celebration of the actual green features and natural life forms. This webinar will discuss the principles of biophilia and use Washington, D.C., as an example biophilic city. ( Register)

350 Sacramento is presenting a community forum designed to speed up our local transition to a carbon-free future. Please bring your ideas, knowledge, and imagination. Highlights include an opening by Sacramento mayor Darrell Steinberg, keynote by Alex Steffen (author of Carbon Zero: Imagining Cities That Can Save the Planet), presentations and discussions to explore realistic paths to carbon zero, interactive focus groups, and more. ( Register)

Built on nearly a decade of climate adaptation strategies, the Safeguarding California Plan 2017 Update is intended to communicate a clear accounting of current and needed actions from the state government to build climate change resiliency. The State of California invites the public to provide input to the 2017 update through public workshops in Auburn, San Francisco, Merced, Coachella, Los Angeles, and San Diego or directly to the Natural Resources Agency at climate@resources.ca.gov. A draft of the 2017 update and a more detailed program will be announced in the near future. ( Link)

The Public Health workgroup will focus on the health impacts from oil and gas production in California, with speakers coming from the California Air Resources Board, UC Berkeley, and PSE Healthy Energy. ( Link)

The public is invited to attend a workshop on Sacramento County's Communitywide Climate Action Plan (CAP) for the Board of Supervisors. (Please note that the date and time may be subject to change.) The workshop will provide an opportunity for County staff to present preliminary information about the Communitywide CAP and receive feedback from the Board of Supervisors and the public. This is an early workshop and not a hearing for adoption. ( Link)

This conference on inclusive emergency planning and post-disaster relief will help you forge partnerships for future disaster planning by learning about disability rights, emergency management responsibilities, and promising practices. Speakers will come from the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, FEMA, the Pacific ADA Center, the Red Cross, disability rights stakeholders, and survivors and responders from the Butte/Valley Fires. ( Register)

California has emerged as a national and international leader in addressing the climate crisis. To keep our leadership and momentum, Cal Poly's City & Regional Planning Department - in partnership with the Governor's Office of Planning and Research - are proud to announce the third California Climate Action Planning Conference. Plan now to learn and network with 200 fellow professionals in climate action, sustainability, and resilience. Program content will include the new Scoping Plan, pathways to deep de-carbonization, successful financing and implementation, community vulnerability assessment, and climate justice. If you would like to keep informed, please visit the conference website and sign up for the e-mail list. ( Link)

The CRC is a program of the Local Government Commission.