Climate Mitigation and Adaptation News August 6, 2019

A biweekly newsletter of the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative

The Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative would like to welcome our newest member, the City of Elk Grove! With a population of over 170,000 people, Elk Grove is the second largest city in Sacramento County and recently adopted a Climate Action Plan in February. Planning Commissioner Mackenzie Wieser is also a member of the Mayors’ Climate Commission on Climate Change.

News

‘People are in danger': the prisoners feeling the effects of US climate crisis

At least 23 prisoners in Texas have died from hyperthermia – excessive body temperature – since 1998. A 2015 paper found widespread risk of heat-related illnesses among the 2.2 million people imprisoned in the US, due to advanced age, mental health problems and complicating medications. The Texas prison system has no plan to cope with global heating trends, and efforts to alleviate the overheating of prisons were recently stymied by state lawmakers. Currently, 75 out of 104 state-run prisons in Texas do not have air conditioning and the TDCJ has said it would need to spend $1.2bn to remedy this situation. ( Guardian) Photo: Chantal Valery/Getty Images

Here’s how hot your hometown will feel by midcentury

The annual number of days with National Weather Service heat indices above 100F is expected to double by mid-century, according to a report from the Union of Concerned Scientists. The number of days that “feel like” 105F or higher is set to triple, with the number of people exposed to “off-the-charts” temperatures growing exponentially. This means days with conditions so extreme that they exceed the current heat index range, which stops at 127F. Days like this have so far affected less than 1 percent of the US by area, but by mid-century, up to a quarter of the US could feel “off-the-charts” heat at least one day a year. An interactive map allows you to explore how the heat index will change in your area depending on the level of climate action. ( Grist, UCS) Photo: Ralph Freso / Getty Images North America

‘Climate apartheid’: UN expert says human rights may not survive

The world is increasingly at risk of “climate apartheid”, where the rich pay to escape heat and hunger caused by the escalating climate crisis while the rest of the world suffers, a report from a UN human rights expert has said. Philip Alston, UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, said the impacts of global heating are likely to undermine not only basic rights to life, water, food, and housing for hundreds of millions of people, but also democracy and the rule of law. “The risk of community discontent, of growing inequality, and of even greater levels of deprivation among some groups, will likely stimulate nationalist, xenophobic, racist and other responses. Maintaining a balanced approach to civil and political rights will be extremely complex.” The report to the UN human rights council (HRC) concludes: “Human rights might not survive the coming upheaval.” ( Guardian) Photo: Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images

During a historic heat wave, researchers make the case for sustainable cooling

Amid the hottest summer on record for various regions, a team of researchers affiliated with the UN released a report calling on entrepreneurs and politicians to fund affordable ways for people to cool off without hurting the planet. This topic, known as “sustainable cooling,” is vital for curbing GHG emissions that result from inefficient air conditioners and refrigerators. “Cooling for all is not simply a clarion call to put an air conditioner in every home,” said Rachel Kyte, the CEO of Sustainable Energy for All, the team behind the report. “It’s an equity issue. It’s an efficiency issue. It’s a productivity issue.” ( Mother Jones) Photo: Charlie Kaijo/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Wire

See-through film rejects 70 percent of incoming solar heat

MIT engineers have developed a heat-rejecting film that could be applied to a building’s windows to reflect up to 70 percent of the sun’s incoming heat. At temperatures above 85F (32 C), the film acts as an “autonomous system” to reject heat. Researchers estimate that if every exterior-facing window in a building were covered in this film, air conditioning and energy costs could drop by 10 percent. The film’s heat-rejecting properties come from tiny microparticles made from a type of phase-changing material that shrinks when exposed to temperatures of 85F or higher. Below 85F, the film is highly transparent, but above 85F, the microparticles give the normally transparent film a more translucent or frosted look. Applied to windows in the summer, the film could passively cool a building while still letting in a good amount of light. ( MIT) Photo: MIT Researchers

Science Friday Podcast: Hot enough for you? Cooling the worsening urban heat island

As the globe warms, urban heat islands are projected to become more pronounced, with even hotter temperatures and a more stark urban-rural divide. But scientists and engineers have been working on solutions to reflect the sun before it can raise temperatures, such as cooler roofing materials and heat-reflecting pigments, cool pavements, green roofs, and neighborhood green space. Ronnen Levinson of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory joins Science Friday to describe what we know about cool infrastructure, while Global Cool Cities Alliance executive director Kurt Shickman explains how cities around the world are implementing solutions—and why it may take something as bureaucratic as building codes to see mass adoption of cooling strategies. ( Science Friday)

Berkeley became first US city to ban natural gas. Here's what that may mean for the future

Berkeley this week became the first city in the United States to ban natural, fossil gas hook-ups in new buildings. The landmark ordinance was passed into law after being approved unanimously by the city council the previous week amid resounding public support. Although Berkeley may be pushing the vanguard, the city is hardly alone. Governments across the US and Europe are looking at strategies to phase out gas. More than 50 cities and counties in California are now considering similar policies to Berkeley’s, either banning or limiting gas and incentivizing full electrification in new buildings. This is significant as new research suggests that natural gas supply systems are leaking far more methane emissions than previously estimated. ( Guardian)

Paris to plant mini urban forests to combat climate change

Paris will be planting a series of urban forests as a way to combat climate change. The mini forests will center around the Gare de Lyon, the Palais Garnier, and pathway along the banks of the Seine river, according to Dezeen. The goal, says Paris’ mayor, Anne Hidalgo, is to decrease carbon emissions and curb rising temperature, which have already been rippling across Europe this summer. ( Curbed)

Living in the first passive house highrise

Over the last 10 years, the passive house, a form of green design that originated in Germany, has surged in popularity. By creating an airtight building envelope with thick, insulated walls and triple-paned windows, passive houses can eliminate the need for heating and cooling systems in temperate climates and greatly minimize it in a place like New York. But applying those design principles to the construction of a 26-story high-rise is more complicated than it is in a single-family home. The House, a 26-story residential tower, is designed to consume 60 to 80 percent less energy than a traditional high-rise, for a projected annual savings of 882 tons of carbon dioxide. ( NYT)

Climate change anxiety: Researcher shares tips to avoid feeling overwhelmed

Michele Koppes, Ph.D., is a geographer and associate professor at the University of British Columbia, where she’s spent the last 20 years watching massive glaciers melt away as a result of the climate crisis. She, like many people who follow the news about global warming and its effects, is aware of climate change anxiety, the overwhelming feeling of hopelessness about the fate of our planet. The changes can be “disheartening,” she tells Inverse, but she doesn’t believe that feeling anxious about climate change is the only direction that people have to go in. Here, she shares how she feels about melting glaciers, coping with climate change anxiety, and the importance of small climate change interventions amid systemic changes. ( Inverse)

‘Climate grief’: Fears about planet’s future weigh on Americans’ mental health

Recently therapists have been seeing patients with anxiety or depression related to climate change and the Earth’s future. Often these patients want to do something to reduce global warming but are overwhelmed and depressed by the scope of the problem and difficulty in finding solutions. And they’re anxious about how the Earth will change over the rest of their or their children’s lifetimes. ( KHN) Photo: Ikon Images/Getty Images

Tools & Resources

Climate Ready Communities: A Practical Guide to Building Climate Resilience

Most local governments find themselves facing difficult climate resilience challenges with few financial resources or help from state or federal governments. Climate resilience planning can be intimidating and overwhelming. This guide will help practitioners break down the process into manageable steps. ( Climate Ready Communities)

Recording available: Wildfire Resilience in California: State of the Space

ARCCA hosted a learning session on wildfire resilience in California with speakers Jennifer Montgomery (Director, Governor’s Forest Management Taskforce) and Nuin-Tara Key (Climate Resilience Program Director, Office of Planning and Research). The recording and presentation are now available. ( ARCCA)

Heat, Fire, Water – How Climate Change Has Created a Public Health Emergency

This new report from the Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) provides a summary narrative of the key findings from three transformative reports on climate change released in 2018 – the 2018 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Global Warming of 1.5 ºC Special Report, and the U.S. Fourth National Climate Assessment. ( PSR)

Upcoming Opportunities

Cal-Adapt User Survey

Cal-Adapt wants to hear from you! The Cal-Adapt team continually strives to make its climate data visualizations, interpretation, and download tools more useful. This survey will expand the Cal-Adapt team's understanding of who uses Cal-Adapt and for what purposes, to expand the tools available, build a seamless user experience, and support climate change adaptation across California. Please fill out a survey to let us know what tools would help you understand California climate change. ( Cal-Adapt)

Job opportunity: Deputy Director, Clean Vehicle Assistance Program

The Beneficial State Foundation is hiring a Deputy Director to lead the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, which is scaling up to serve thousands of low-income Californians with grants and fair financing for the purchase of clean vehicles. The Foundation is seeking a visionary and pragmatic leader with a strong commitment to direct service that furthers economic and environmental justice. The ideal candidate will have experience leading nonprofit programs, executing government grants, mentoring and growing a team, and scaling grantmaking initiatives. Deadline: August 16, 8am PST. ( BSF)

Job opportunity: Campaign Manager & Field Coordinators at Cool Davis

In partnership with the City of Davis, Cool Davis is developing and implementing cutting edge programming to encourage rapid reduction of GHG emissions at the household and neighborhood level. Cool Davis offers seasoned professionals as well as college students and recent graduates access to valuable experience in sustainability and resilience fields. Cool Davis is hiring a Campaign Manager and two Campaign Field Coordinators to direct and implement the Cool Homes and Cool Solutions Campaigns to reduce GHG emissions in the areas of Transportation, Home Energy, and Consumption (consumer choices). The Campaign Manager is responsible for the overall development, planning, and implementation of campaign strategy, as well as the activities of Field Coordinators and their volunteers. The Campaign Field Coordinator will help implement the campaigns using community based social marketing principles and community engagement strategies, train and direct volunteers, conduct events, and more. ( Cool Davis)

Launch your social purpose career with CivicSpark!

CivicSpark, a Governor’s Initiative AmeriCorps program, is recruiting 90 Fellows who are interested in serving with local governments in California to address a broad range of resiliency issues. Fellows implement local projects on topics including sustainable transportation, energy efficiency, climate action planning, water conservation, drought response, affordable housing, and rural-broadband. Fellows gain exceptional career experience and training to become future leaders in California’s response to emerging environmental and social equity challenges. CivicSpark is looking for upcoming/recent college graduates who want to gain real-world experience, launch a social purpose career, and make a lasting impact! ( Link)

American Geophysical Union (AGU): Thriving Earth Exchange

The AGU's Thriving Earth Exchange is seeking several US communities interested in advancing their priorities through collaborative science. AGU is an Earth and space science membership society of over 60,000 members who study everything from the center of the Earth to the surface of the Sun and everything in between. For example, communities who have worked with our scientists have vetted a 350ppm GHG emissions target; developed a drought vulnerability assessment; assessed flood vulnerability of a food distribution center, and saved millions in unnecessary remediation costs when creating a recreational park. Join over 98 communities that are advancing their priorities in climate resilience, pollution, natural resource management, or natural hazards! Learn more about our program here. Applications for the September cohort will be considered on a rolling basis until 16 August 2019. We are also considering applications on a rolling basis for a December cohort until 15 November 2019. ( Thriving Earth Exchange)

Natural Climate Solutions Accelerator Grant

Through the generous support of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The Nature Conservancy is announcing a request for proposals for two additional rounds of grant funding for projects with potential to substantially increase the use of natural climate solutions. This grant-funding program is focused on helping kick-start innovative and scalable approaches to capturing GHG emissions by using natural and working lands in the US. Deadline: August 16th, 2019. ( TNC)

Multifamily Housing Program (MHP) – Notice of Funding Availability

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has $178 million in funds for the Multifamily Housing Program (MHP) to assist the new construction, rehabilitation and preservation of permanent and transitional rental housing for lower income households. Deadline: August 20. ( HCD)

Sacramento County offers $1 million in grants to local non-profits

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors will provide $1 million through the 2019 Transient Occupancy Tax Grant Program to support nonprofit organizations located in Sacramento County that carry out community-based programs and/or services in the areas of economic and workforce development, arts and culture, community development, or health and human services. There will be two grant workshops held on July 24, 5.30-7pm, and July 26, 11.30am-1pm. Applications will be accepted online from July 26 to August 26, 2019. ( Sacramento County)

Solar Energy Innovation Network: Solar in Rural Communities and Commercial-Scale Solar

The Solar Energy Innovation Network program is seeking applications for collaborative research projects to address challenges related to solar adoption in rural communities, multifamily housing, community solar projects, and commercial buildings. Teams are encouraged to include state and local governments, utilities, industry, regulators, nonprofits, and academics. Innovation Network teams will receive technical assistance and facilitation support from NREL and other expert partners for 15 to 18 months, as well as funding. Round 1 focused on grid integration, resilience, and reliability. Deadline: September 4. ( DOE)

Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program Easement and Planning Grants

The Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program makes strategic investments to protect agricultural lands from conversion to more GHG-intensive uses. Easement grants have no maximum limit and aim to protect important agricultural lands under threat of conversion through the acquisition of voluntary, permanent agricultural conservation easements. Planning grants provide up to $250,000 to local and regional governments to work closely with local stakeholders to develop local and regional land use policies and implementation activities that integrate agricultural land conservation in a way that reduces or avoids GHG emissions, supports job creation, and benefits AB 1550 populations. Final deadline: Friday, September 13. ( SGC)

USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Sustainable Agricultural Systems Grant

Applications must focus on approaches that promote transformational changes in the U.S. food and agriculture system within the next 25 years. The program seeks creative and visionary applications that take a systems approach, and that will significantly improve the supply of abundant, affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible food, while providing sustainable opportunities for expansion of the bioeconomy. These approaches must demonstrate current and future social, behavioral, economic, health, and environmental impacts. Deadline: Sept. 26. ( USDA)

California Air Resources Board: Community Air Grant

This grant program will support community-based organizations to work actively with local governments to identify, evaluate, and reduce air pollution and exposure to harmful emissions in their communities. The program will help support AB 617, which established a community-based framework to improve air quality and reduce exposure to toxic air pollutants in California communities most impacted by air pollution. Deadline: Sept. 30. ( CARB)

SB 2: $123 million available for Housing Planning Grants

The Department of Housing and Community Development has $123 million available under the SB2 Planning Grants Program (PGP). The PGP will help local governments prepare, adopt, and implement plans that accelerate housing production; streamline the approval of housing development affordable to owner and renter households at all income levels; facilitate housing affordability, particularly for lower- and moderate-income households; and promote development consistent with the State Planning Priorities. This a is a non-competitive, over-the-counter grant program that can fund a range of projects including targeted general plan updates, community plans and specific plans, zoning updates and by-right zoning for housing, streamlined environmental analyses, and process updates to streamline zoning. Applications will be accepted until November 30, 2019. ( HCD)

Ford Foundation: Challenge Inequality Grant Program

The Ford Foundation is currently accepting brief pitches for ideas and projects that challenge inequality in their seven program areas - one of which is Natural Resources and Climate Change. Past projects have included communications assistance to promote community land and forestry rights as effective climate change solutions, and promoting learning exchanges on forestry and climate change. Project ideas can be submitted on a rolling basis. ( Ford Foundation)

Funding: Acorn Foundation’s general support grants for environmental justice groups

The Acorn Foundation is dedicated to supporting community-based organizations working to advance environmental conservation, sustainability and environmental justice. The Foundation is particularly interested in small, innovative community-based projects that engage in community organizing to advocate for environmental health and justice; preserve and restore habitats supporting biological diversity; and prevent or remedy toxic pollution. The Foundation has an open Letter of Inquiry process for general support grants to grassroots organizations. ( Link)

Upcoming Events

Charting the Path Forward: The Environmental Poll Tuesday, August 13, 2-4pm Sacramento State – Downtown, 304 S Street, Sacramento

Residents have spoken: the air we breathe, the water we drink, the natural places we treasure are some of the things we value most. Join Valley Vision and Sacramento State's Institute for Social Research for their presentation of the results of the Environmental Poll. During the event, we will facilitate an interactive discussion to review the findings and investigate how this data can inform aligned community action. ( RSVP)

Webinar: Designing for Resilience Across Scales, Systems and Sectors Wednesday, August 14, 10-11.30am

From climate change to rapid urbanization, social inequity to failing infrastructure, there are a wide variety of risks that can compromise a city’s ability to be competitive while also supporting the well-being of its residents. Join the Smart Growth Network for a webinar that looks at these challenges and identifies opportunities to design resilient and adaptable cities in the face of these growing threats. This session will examine resilience across scales, systems and sectors, review resilience concepts and look at what resilience means in the built environment. ( Register)

CARB Workshop – Carbon Neutrality: Scenarios for Deep Decarbonization / Social Cost of Carbon and Affordability Thursday, August 15, 1-4pm, and Friday, August 16, 9am-2pm Byron Sher Auditorium, CalEPA Building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) staff will host two workshops on carbon neutrality. The August 15 workshop will focus on scenarios for achieving deep decarbonization of California’s economy and to discuss implications for meeting California’s carbon neutrality goals The August 16 workshop will focus on the social cost of carbon and the considerations for affordability in meeting California’s carbon neutrality goals. ( CARB)

Webinar: Public Participation: How to Authentically Engage Communities Wednesday, August 21, 1pm

Join the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative and the Institute for Local Government (ILG) for an interactive webinar on effective public participation. This webinar will provide an opportunity for local agencies, nonprofits, and climate professionals to learn about authentic community engagement – specifically how to build community capacity, form lasting partnerships, cultivate community buy-in, and strengthen institutional trust to build and develop climate action. ILG will also share best practices that organizations need to know in order to build a strong foundation to foster effective, inclusive, and sustainable community engagement. ( Register)

Valley Vision: Farm to Fork Live Thursday, August 22, 12.30-5.30pm Woodland Community College, 2300 E. Gibson Rd, Woodland

Farm to Fork Live will showcase the ways in which new technologies and innovations in precision agriculture and food processing are accelerating the food and ag economy in the Sacramento region. We’ll hear from entrepreneurs, farmers, and companies using exciting new technologies. ( RSVP)

APA Sacramento Valley Speaker Series: Envisioning Corridors for Stronger Communities Friday, August 23, 8.30-10.30am West Sacramento Community Center, 1075 West Capitol Ave, West Sacramento

To build strong communities, we need to rethink how our public rights-of-way interact with the people who travel along them. This session loooks at transportation corridors, corridor analysis, project development, and best practices. From the local perspective, we’ll have representatives of SACOG’s Civic Lab 2.0 program, which focuses this year’s efforts on corridor revitalization. Broadening our view, we’ll discuss the Urban Land Institute’s recent publications, Envisioning Healthy Corridors: Lessons from Our Communities and Blind Spots: How Unhealthy Corridors Harm Communities and How to Fix Them. This session will be mostly Q&A to engage the panelists to share lessons learned, best practices, and other insights. Cost: $20-$30. ( SVSAPA)

Cleaner Air Partnership – Preparing for the Next Fires: The Latest on State Forest Management and Local Air Monitoring Friday, August 30, 11.30am-1.30pm

Please join the Cleaner Air Partnership’s quarterly luncheon to hear the latest about the State of California's investments in wildfire preparation and prevention, and receive an update on the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District's work with community members in South Sacramento to deploy air quality monitoring equipment. 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)

2019 Sacramento ACT Environmental Justice Fundraiser Saturday, September 7, 12.30-3.30pm South Sacramento Christian Church, 7710 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento

Rev. Dr. Ambrose Carroll is an ordained baptist minister, Pastor of the church by the side of the road in Berkeley, and the Co-Founder of the Green the Church Campaign. His work is to educate chruch leaders and religious academics on biblical teachings that support the green movement and to create green ministries in churches. He seeks to ensure that the new green economy is inclusive and that communities of color are at the forefront of the movement. Join us for a wonderful event full of information, light refreshments and good company. ( Tickets)

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.

CRC is a program of the  Local Government Commission .