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Climate Mitigation and Adaptation News
December 5, 2018
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A biweekly newsletter of the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative
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The fires may be out in Paradise, California, and the media attention is moving on, but the long task of recovery is just beginning, and survivors are still in need of long-term assistance to rebuild their lives. The best ways to provide is not to donate goods, but cash, for larger community groups such as United Way and the North Valley Community Foundation, according to this
article. As the United Nations climate summit gets underway in Poland, and the
Fourth National Climate Assessment provides a stark glimpse of climate impacts both now and in the future, it's a good time to start building resilience here at home and with our neighbors.
As a small step toward that end, the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative is conducting a new flood safety public awareness campaign, via our
Twitter and
Facebook channels. Please keep your eye out for these messages, and consider sharing them on your or your organization's social medial accounts. Thank you!
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What to watch for at the UN climate talks
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The biggest goal of this year's climate talks is to transform the Paris pledges into a series of rules to govern how the world reduces its greenhouse gas emissions. Key points of discussion will be how to measure this, how to ensure it's transparent and comparable across borders and how to verify it through some form of international watchdog organization. The end result of this conference will show whether the world can come together to agree on a solution or if politics will bar progress on an issue where time is paramount. (
Bloomberg)
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Major federal climate report says damage is 'intensifying across the country'
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| Photo: Noah Berger/AP |
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The federal government released a long-awaited report with an unmistakable message: The effects of climate change, including deadly wildfires, increasingly debilitating hurricanes and heat waves, are already battering the US, and the danger of more such catastrophes is worsening. The report's authors are more certain than ever that climate change poses a severe threat to Americans' health and pocketbooks, as well as to the country's infrastructure and natural resources. In a worst-case climate-change scenario labor-related losses by the year 2090 as a result of extreme heat could amount to an estimated $155 billion annually. Deaths from temperature extremes could take an economic toll of $141 billion per year in the same year, while coastal property damage could total $118 billion yearly, researchers found. By 2100, climate change could decrease GDP by up to 10 percent. (
Washington Post)
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Bigger wildfires. Worsening droughts. More disease. How climate change is battering California
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Here are some key excerpts from the 4th National Climate Assessment about how global warming is already changing California. (
LA Times)
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| We broke down what climate change will do, region by region |
The writers at Grist have summarized the regional impacts of the National Climate Assessment in everyday language. (
Grist)
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Photo: Grist / Smith Collection / Gado / Getty Images
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| Climate change is the world's worst public health crisis |
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Photo: Eric Risberg/AP
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A report by the Lancet Countdown calls climate change "the biggest global health threat of the 21st century," and warns that if it is not addressed, disease, poor air quality, and food insecurity will threaten millions of people. The report, written by a team of international researchers, focuses on several climate-related impacts, including extreme heat and its effect on labor productivity and the spread of disease. Even small changes in temperature and precipitation can result in large changes in the transmission of vector-borne and water-borne diseases. Meanwhile, the world's capacity to grow food also appears to be under threat. An examination of agricultural yields shows declines in every region; 30 countries produced less food in recent years. (
Link)
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| Understanding how climate change can affect public health in California |
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Photo: Josh Edelson / AFP
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A new report outlines in great detail the potential health and economic costs to California from climate change - everything from premature deaths due to heatstroke to anticipated spikes in West Nile virus, Valley fever, and even kidney stones. The report was commissioned by state Sen. Ricardo Lara, who will soon be giving up his senate seat after being elected insurance commissioner earlier this month. By 2050, as many as 6,700 to 11,300 premature deaths are expected due to rising heat, which will also lead to the growth of disease-carrying mosquitos and ticks, as well as food-borne pathogens. Climate models project "large" wildfires are expected to increase in number by 21 percent by 2034, and with wildfire smoke comes a well-documented higher rate of hospitalizations and respiratory illness such as acute bronchitis. (
KQED)
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| Claws out: crab fishermen sue 30 oil firms over climate change |
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Photo: Eric Risberg/AP
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For the fourth-generation crab fisherman John Beardon, the warming of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California has meant toxic crabs, shortened fishing seasons and a near decimation of his livelihood On Wednesday, associations representing California crab fishermen like Beardon filed suit against 30 fossil fuel companies seeking to make the companies pay for the harm global warming has caused to California's fisheries. The lawsuit is the first legal action by a private industry group seeking to hold the fossil fuel companies responsible for major losses attributed to global warming. (
Guardian)
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| The fires in California highlight - and worsen - the state's income divide |
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| Photo: David McNew/Getty Images |
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While wealthy Californians can afford to hire private firefighters and rebuild destroyed homes, others may remain homeless for months. More than 52,000 people have been forced to evacuate from the Camp Fire, and a dearth of affordable housing in the area means they have few places to go. With more than 90 percent of the housing stock in Paradise destroyed, Butte County officials say they're "on the edge" of a humanitarian crisis. (
Vox)
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| Part of the answer to climate change may be trees and dirt |
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Photo: Josh Haner/The New York Times
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A new study found that better management of forests, grasslands and soils in the United States could offset as much as 21 percent of the country's annual GHG emissions. At the high end of the projections, that would be roughly equivalent to taking every single car and truck in the country off the road. The paper identified a number of promising strategies, like replanting trees on degraded lands, changing logging practices to better protect existing forests, and sequestering more carbon in farmland soils through new agricultural techniques such as cover cropping, These strategies could be less expensive than many subsidies to encourage clean energy, and in line with the cost per ton of several recent carbon tax proposals. This year, California formed a partnership with 15 other states, including New York and Hawaii, to explore how better land management could help tackle climate change. (
NYT)
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| Destructive winter flood risk could triple in US West |
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Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images
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The risk of devastating floods like the one that damaged California's Oroville Dam in 2017 will soar in many Western river basins by 2100, if we don't dramatically slow climate change. A new study provides a grim analysis of a "rain-on-snow" flood event, which can be particularly destructive. The Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Rocky Mountains, and parts of the Canadian Rockies are especially vulnerable. These floods also wreak havoc for water management, as a premature melting or loss of the snowpack means a loss of summer water supplies. (
Link)
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| Strategic Growth Council awards $48 million for agricultural land conservation |
The Strategic Growth Council approved nearly $48 million in grants to support 17 agricultural conservation projects that will protect and preserve agricultural land from development and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. This year's awards will conserve approximately 10,721 acres of high-value and productive agricultural land and eliminate more than 18 billion potential vehicle miles traveled that would result from development of these lands over a 30-year period. Several of the awardees are in the Capital Region, including for Sacramento County, Placer Land Trust, and the Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust. (
SGC)
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Building Equitable Partnerships for Environmental Justice
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This two-day workshop from UC Davis and the University of Michigan aims to walks researchers and community groups through the essential tenets of community participatory research. It covers everything from building equitable partnerships and understanding power dynamics, to leveraging university resources and more. The full curriculum is available online. (
Link)
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People of Color in Environmental and Climate Justice Website
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As a one-stop-site for speakers, consultants, potential hires, board members, advisory group and steering committee members, and more, this website is designed to help connect with environmental and climate justice experts who are people of color. Connect with these fabulous leaders
here.
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Creating Sustainable Communities and Landscapes: Practices and Tools for Local Collaboration on Climate-Smart Growth
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Developed through a collaboration among the Strategic Growth Council, the Governor's Office of Planning and Research and the California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions, this paper is intended to help support coordination among local entities to advance efficient growth and conservation of natural resources. Discussion of the importance of social cohesion in community resilience is included. (
SGC)
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Cumulative Exposure to Climate Change
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This web app shows the cumulative index of 11 climate hazards: warming, drought, heatwaves, fires, precipitation, floods, storms, water scarcity, sea level rise, and changes in natural land cover and ocean chemistry. (
ESRI)
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Wildfire Smoke: Business Impacts Survey
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The frequency and intensity of major wildfire events has been increasing and will continue to increase in the future. With our partners, Valley Vision is seeking to understand how wildfire smoke events affect businesses in the region, and to what extent business owners and managers are making decisions about their businesses in response to the smoke-affected air quality. Please complete this survey from the perspective of the one single business in which you are an owner, manager, or employee. On December 7th, we will draw one name from all completed responses and donate $100 to North Valley Community Foundation's Camp Fire relief efforts in that person's name. Valley Vision will publish aggregate results from this survey via its website; no individual responses will be identifiable in any published data. (
Link)
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| Safe Routes to Parks Activating Communities Program |
The Safe Routes to Parks Activating Communities program is now accepting applications for awards for 11 grantee communities in 2019. The Safe Routes to Parks Activating Communities program provides tailored technical assistance for communities to develop Safe Routes to Parks action plans and awards $12,500 to each community to begin implementation of those plans. Deadline: Monday, December 10. (
Link)
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Input needed: Share your thoughts on the Adaptation Planning Guide
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The State is currently in the process of updating the California Adaptation Planning Guide, a set of four documents designed to help local jurisdictions plan for hazards exacerbated by climate change. Part of the update process is gaining public input on what is needed to develop and incorporate climate strategies specific to each of the State's regions. Please participate by taking this brief survey. Your input will play a critical role in helping your community best respond to the impacts of climate change. Deadline: December 19. (
Link)
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OPR Invites Input on Updated Environmental Justice Chapter in General Plan Guidelines
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The Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) is pleased to invite your input on a revised Environmental Justice (EJ) Chapter in the General Plan Guidelines. OPR was in the midst of the comprehensive General Plan Guideline (GPG) update when Senate Bill 1000 (Leyva, 2016) passed requiring local jurisdictions with disadvantaged communities to incorporate a separate EJ element or integrate goals, policies and objectives. OPR has done significant outreach across the state with EJ groups, city and county planning departments, state agencies, and many other stakeholders to provide additional guidance on the new statute. The
revised EJ Chapter will be open for public comment until 5pm on December 20; written comments can be submitted to
sb1000@opr.ca.gov. (
Link)
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Provide input on Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plans
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The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has opened a proceeding to guide and review investor owned electric utilities' wildfire mitigation plans, which are required by SB 901 and are central to California's strategy to prevent and prepare for catastrophic wildfires. Stakeholder review and input is crucial. Participation in this proceeding is your community's opportunity to provide guidance and review of wildfire plan components including: wildfire prevention strategies for electric utilities; protocols for mitigating impacts of public safety power shutoffs; utility procedures for maintenance and inspection of lines; outreach to first responders and customers, including low-income, elderly, disabled, and those with limited English; and restoration of service after a wildfire. Comments can be submitted up to Dec, 31, 2018. (
CPUC)
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National League of Cities: Leadership in Community Resilience Program Application
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The Sustainable Cities Institute (SCI) at the National League of Cities is accepting statements of interest from cities to participate in the 2019 Leadership in Community Resilience program. This year-long assistance and capacity-building program supports city-led projects by focusing on implementation, peer-learning and information sharing. It also includes a $10,000 grant to build local resilience capacity by supporting an implementation project or hosting a mayoral-level engagement event. Summaries of the work from the 2017 and 2018 program can be found on the SCI homepage. Deadline: January 4, 2019. (
Link)
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Cal Fire releases $155 million funding programs for forest health and fire prevention
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Cal Fire is soliciting applications for $155 million in projects that will help prevent catastrophic wildfires and restore forest health while sequestering carbon and reducing GHG emissions. The
Fire Prevention Grants Program will fund local projects that address the risk of wildfire and reduce wildfire potential to communities in, and adjacent to, forested areas. Qualified activities include hazardous fuel reduction, fire planning, and fire prevention education with an emphasis on improving public health and safety. The
Forest Health Grants Program will fund projects that proactively restore forest health, protect upper watersheds, promote the long-term storage of carbon in forest trees and soils, and minimize the loss of forest carbon. Conservation easements and land acquisitions are also eligible under the Forest Legacy Program. In addition to the $155 million, up to $3.5 million will be available specifically for applied research studies that examine forest management and health to support forest landowners, resource agencies, and fire management organizations. The deadline for the Fire Prevention program is 3pm, December 19, 2018, and for the Forest Health Program, 3pm, January 29, 2018. (
Link)
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Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Mini Grant Program
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SACOG will award mini-grants of up to $3,000 per project in support of small events and non-infrastructure programs or projects that encourage biking, walking, riding transit, carpooling, vanpooling and teleworking, as options for reducing car trips and vehicles miles traveled. Projects that focus on testing a new strategy or tactic for changing travel behavior will be prioritized. Applications considered on a rolling basis until $30,000 has been awarded for each of two application phases. The second phase is open July 15 through December 31, 2018. (
Link)
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FEMA FY 2018 Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program and Flood Mitigation Assistance Program
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The
Pre-Disaster Mitigation program (PDM) funds State, Local and Tribal Governments to implement and sustain cost-effective measures designed to reduce the risk to individuals and property from natural hazards, while also reducing reliance on Federal funding from future disasters. The
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program funds State, Local and Tribal Governments to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In FY18, the FMA Program will prioritize proposals that address community flood risk by setting aside $70 million for this purpose. Deadline for both programs: January 31, 2019. (
PDM &
FMA)
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$395 Million Available for Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Round 4
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Round 4 of the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program is now open for applications. Administered by the Strategic Growth Council and implemented by the Department of Housing and Community Development, the AHSC program funds land use, housing, transportation, and land use preservation projects to support infill and compact development that reduces GHG emissions. Deadline for
applying for technical assistance is Nov. 21. Deadline: February 11, 2019. (
Link)
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EPA: Environmental Justice Small Grants Program
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EPA announced $1.5 million for a new competition cycle for the Environmental Justice Small Grants (EJSG) program. In general, the EJSG program awards grants to community-based organizations that support community-driven projects designed to engage, educate, and empower communities to better understand local environmental and public health issues and develop strategies for addressing those issues, building consensus in the community, and setting community priorities. The current opportunity will emphasize projects that address emergency preparedness and increase resiliency, as well as projects that include the needs of US military veterans and homeless populations. Deadline: February 15, 2019. (
EPA)
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| Webinar: Modeling and Observations to Detect Neighborhood-Scale Heat Islands to Inform Effective Countermeasures in Los Angeles
Wednesday, December 5, 10-11am
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This webinar reports on research to carry out a multi-dimensional assessment of urban temperature variations in the Los Angeles Basin based on state-of-the-science numerical modeling and several types of observations, including mobile transects, dense networks of personal weather stations, and sparse but more accurate research-grade stationary weather monitors. (
Link)
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| Webinar: Cal-Adapt: Linking Climate Science with Practitioner Need
Thursday, December 6, noon-1pm
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Learn about Cal-Adapt, the tool built by the California Energy Commission to help planners and practitioners access regionally downscaled climate impacts in visually compelling data visualizations. (
Link)
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| Webinar: Wildfire Simulations for the Fourth California Climate Assessment: Projecting Changes in Extreme Wildfire Events with a Warming Climate
Monday, December 10, 11am-noon
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Dr. LeRoy Westerling will present his research on increases in modeling future changes in wildfire events based on a range of scenarios for climate change severity, population and development footprint, and fuel treatment rates. Under a high GHG emissions scenario, the average annual area burned increased by 77% statewide, while maximum area burned statewide increased by 178% by end of century. Extreme wildfire events increased in frequency, with fires greater than 10,000 hectares occurring nearly 50% more often. Simulated large-scale fuels treatments in Sierra Nevada forests substantially reduced increases in burned area, particularly in more moderate climate change scenarios - treating 30 percent of vegetated area reduced Sierra Nevada area burned by 16-31 percent by the end of the century. (
Link)
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| Webinar: Paying for Climate Adaptation in California
Tuesday, December 11, 1-2pm
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In October 2018, Resources Legacy Fund and AECOM's Sustainable Economics practice released
Paying for Climate Adaptation in California: A Primer for Practitioners, a review of key concepts, principles, and options for investing in more resilient communities and natural systems. In conjunction with this report, we would like to continue the discussion about supporting needed adaptation projects and programs. Please join this webinar to learn more about the report's key takeaways, including recommended strategies for overcoming common challenges that can discourage investment in adaptation and resilience projects. A recording will be available. (
Link)
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| CARB Workshop: Sustainable Communities Strategy Evaluation Guidelines
Wednesday, December 12, 2-4pm
Sierra Hearing Room, Cal/EPA Building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento
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California Air Resources Board (CARB) is hosting this workshop to seek input on development of the SB 375 Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) program evaluation guidelines. CARB staff will solicit stakeholder feedback on the SCS evaluation framework, information exchange process (i.e., technical methodology, data submittal), and guidance on approaches for quantifying GHG emissions reductions from potential strategies. The Draft SB 375 SCS Evaluation Guidelines as well as the presentation slides will be available prior to the workshop. Webcast available. (
Link)
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| CEQA: The Year in Review
December 13-14, San Francisco
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2018 has been another exceptional year for CEQA legal and policy developments! Major amendments to the CEQA Guidelines are expected to be adopted by the end of 2018, while housing bills enacted in 2017 created new CEQA streamlining options that now are being implemented. In addition, the appellant courts have published numerous CEQA opinions with major implications for environmental practice. As always, California's pre-eminent attorneys, planners, and experts will provide you the latest insights, trends, and practice advice. (
Register)
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| Climate Change Compact of Yolo County
Friday, December 14, 9-11am
Yolo-Solano AQMD, 1947 Galileo Court #103, Davis
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Much of the discussion of climate action planning at both state and local levels has recently focused on regional responses. We will discuss: 1) an effort in San Diego County to develop a regional framework for CAPs; 2) a proposal from UC Berkeley to develop resources cities and counties could use, for example, to streamline the CAP process by providing baseline inventories and monitoring progress towards goals and targets; and 3) the formation and progress of a regional effort in Yolo County to address adverse heat effects of climate change.
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| Cleaner Air Partnership Quarterly Luncheon - Carbon Zero by 2045
Friday, December 14, 11.30am-1.30pm
Sacramento Association of Realtors, 2003 Howe Avenue, Sacramento
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We will receive an update on regional air quality in the wake of devastating wildfires, learn about the work of the
Mayors' Commission on Climate Change, and talk about upcoming resources to inform environment-related decision-making. These gatherings are an opportunity to connect with leaders in government, business, health and environmental advocacy and learn about important air quality topics affecting the Sacramento region. (
RSVP)
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| California Bioresources Economy Summit 2019
January 29-30, 2019, David Brower Center, 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA
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The California Bioresources Economy Summit will bring together policymakers, bioresource experts, technology innovators, community groups, and researchers to explore how the State's bioresources from the forest, agricultural, and urban sectors can help the State adapt to and mitigate climate change, improve air quality, create jobs, and achieve other co-benefits. (
Link)
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| Save the Date: CRC Workshop on the Sacramento Valley Report from California's 4th Climate Change Assessment
February 6, 2018, UC Davis
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By 2050, climate change could lead to an
additional 11,300 deaths in California due to rising temperatures, with an exponential increase in the number of extreme heat days in many areas. The average area burned by wildfires could increase 77% by 2100, while the state would also see more swings between extremes of drought and precipitation. Join the CRC at our first quarterly meeting of 2018 to hear from researchers and authors that wrote the
Sacramento Valley regional report for the 4th Climate Change Assessment to learn about how climate impacts affect the Sacramento Valley area specifically. See other regional reports and events
here.
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Registration for the National Adaptation Forum is now open!
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The 4th National Adaptation Forum will take place in Madison, WI, from April 23-25, 2019. Attendees will learn how to make their work climate-informed, share insights with others, and develop a stronger network of like-minded peers. Early registration ends March 1, 2019. (
Link
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About the Capital Region Climate
Readiness
Collaborative
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The Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative is a membership based collaborative network designed to promote greater climate change resilience planning coordination in the six-county Sacramento Region. The purpose of this collaborative network is to create a forum where leaders from government, academia, environmental and community groups, the business community, and labor can come together to exchange information, identify vulnerabilities and data gaps, leverage resources, and advance comprehensive solutions in an effort to create stronger, sustainable, and economically viable communities in the Capital Region.
The CRC is a program of the Local Government Commission.
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