Census data show us how Americans move: toward heat, toward coastlines, toward drought, regardless of evidence of increasing storms and flooding and other disasters. The sense that money and technology can overcome nature has emboldened Americans. Where money and technology fail, though, it inevitably falls to government policies — and government subsidies — to pick up the slack. Across the United States, some 162 million people — nearly one in two — will most likely experience a decline in the quality of their environment, namely more heat and less water. For 93 million of them, the changes could be particularly severe, and by 2070, if carbon emissions rise at extreme levels, at least four million Americans could find themselves living at the fringe, in places decidedly outside the ideal niche for human life. (NYT) (Photo: Meridith Kohut)

See how the North American places where humans have lived for thousands of years will shift and what changes are in store for your county. According to new data from the Rhodium Group analyzed by ProPublica and The New York Times Magazine, warming temperatures and changing rainfall will drive agriculture and temperate climates northward, while sea level rise will consume coastlines and dangerous levels of humidity will swamp the Mississippi River valley. Taken with other recent research showing that a northward shift of most habitable climate in North America and an increase in the incidence of large fires, this suggests that the climate crisis will profoundly interrupt the way we live and farm in the United States. (ProPublica)

For most of us, climate change can feel like an amorphous threat — with the greatest dangers lingering ominously in the future and the solutions frustratingly out of reach. So perhaps focusing on today’s real harms could help us figure out how to start dealing with climate change. Here’s one way to do that: by looking at the most significant climate threat unfolding in your own backyard. This resources of climate threats uses data from Four Twenty Seven, a company that assesses climate risk for financial markets. NYT selected the highest risk for each county to build this map and combined it with separate data from Four Twenty Seven on wildfire risks. (NYT) Source: Four Twenty Seven

When most people think of adaptation to the climate crisis, they think of governments building up infrastructure to protect property against rising seas or the agriculture industry finding new ways of growing crops with different rain patterns. But individuals are already adapting – whether they are buying air purifiers, installing air conditioning to fight the heat or spending big to evacuate ahead of intensifying hurricanes. Americans around the country – if they have the resources – are dedicating more of their income to living with extreme weather fueled by climate change. The most vulnerable are being left behind, in the absence of government aid. (Guardian) Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

Amid pandemics and environmental disasters, designers and architects have been forced to imagine a world in which the only way to move forward is to look back. (NYT) Photo: Julia Watson, published by Taschen © Amos Chapple

California is one of America’s marvels. By moving vast quantities of water and suppressing wildfires for decades, the state has transformed its arid and mountainous landscape into the richest, most populous and bounteous place in the nation. But now, those same feats have given California a new and unwelcome category of superlatives. The same manufactured landscapes that have enabled California’s tremendous growth, building the state into a $3 trillion economy that is home to one in 10 Americans, have also left it more exposed to climate shocks, experts say. And those shocks will only get worse. (NYT) Photo: Jim Wilson/The New York Times

An NPR analysis of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency air quality data found that nearly 50 million people in California, Oregon and Washington live in counties that experienced at least one day of "unhealthy" or worse air quality during wildfire season so far this year. That's 1 in 7 Americans, an increase of more than 9 million people compared with 2018, the worst previous year. More than 17 million people — the most ever recorded during fire season — live in counties where air quality reached levels deemed "very unhealthy" or "hazardous." (NPR) Source: RAMMB/Colorado State University

Buildings last a long time, so their owners try to plan for the future. They can see that the number of extreme weather events is on the rise and that the cost of powering a building with fossil fuels could rise as governments get around to tackling climate change. “It’s a form of future-proofing, a way building owners can make sure they are on the right side of these various trends,” said Alexi Miller, an associate director of the New Buildings Institute. (Grist) Image: Grist

In 100 years, what will a United States transformed by climate change look like? At this point, you don’t have to use much imagination to predict what’s coming: Temperatures will continue to climb; sea levels will continue to rise. And, by the 2060s, global migration patterns will bring 100 million new people into the country, who will settle from coast to coast. Researchers designed a series of maps for an online collection dubbed The 2100 Project: An Atlas for A Green New Deal. The website uses a variety of projected and current data sources to sketch out the country’s possible fate, displaying its geography in economic, ecological, agricultural, and ideological terms. Collectively, the images provide visual evidence that it’s not too late for grand interventions to make a fundamental difference. (City Lab)

Sometimes you need to confront the worst possible outcome in order to avert it. The raging wildfires and Atomic tangerine skies that have recently plagued the western US are yet another example of the impact of climate change. And, they may be a mere prelude to more disturbing developments on the horizon. Experts at the World Economic Forum have developed climate scenarios for the year 2100 ranging from best- to worst-case. They created a visualization of global temperature change and impacts resulting from the worst-case scenario, depicting extreme heat, rising sea levels and dramatically altered local climates. (WEF)

Decades of growing crisis are already locked into the global ecosystem and cannot be reversed. This means the kinds of cascading disasters occurring today — drought in the West fueling historic wildfires that send smoke all the way to the East Coast, or parades of tropical storms lining up across the Atlantic to march destructively toward North America — are no longer features of some dystopian future. They are the here and now, worsening for the next generation and perhaps longer, depending on humanity’s willingness to take action. “Don’t think of it as the warmest month of August in California in the last century. Think of it as one of the coolest months of August in California in the next century.” Again and again, climate scientists have shown that our choices now range from merely awful to incomprehensibly horrible. (NYT) Photo: Richard Coleman/Australian Antarctic Division, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Sacramento is one step closer to turning a vacant City-owned property into a site for urban agriculture. The City recently signed a lease agreement with the non-profit Planting Justice for the former City Tree Nursery, a five-acre site in the Mangan Park neighborhood, with the goal of project construction and opening in 2021. “This effort will increase community food access and advance equity and environmental justice,” said City Sustainability Manager Jennifer Venema. Planting Justice is a non-profit based out of Oakland that has also partnered with local enterprises Yisrael Family Urban Farm and Three Sisters Gardens. According to Venema, the three non-profits propose to transform the property into a nationally significant center for urban agriculture, social entrepreneurship, biodiversity, youth mentorship and farmer training. (Link)

The Sacramento region is preparing for the long-term impacts of the climate crisis when it comes to water supply. Central to the plan is a groundwater storage program with two to three times the dspace of Folsom Lake. “We're expecting in the future to have more severe droughts and potential for Folsom Reservoir to not fill up with the frequency that it does,” said James Peifer, executive director of the Regional Water Authority. He says the answer is to store water underground, a concept he calls a water bank. But making this idea a reality will take at least $288 million dollars, over a decade of work, and the cooperation of the more than 20 water agencies in the Sacramento region. (Capital Public Radio) Photo: Kari Bluff / Flickr

The COVID-19 Resilience Poll series tracks the experiences, perceptions, concerns, and hopes of people in the Capital region, via three polls conducted through the first twelve months of the COVID-19 pandemic – including health impacts and fears, the experiences of the varying public orders and guidance, and the economic consequences of the pandemic. Notably, the poll finds that 63% of respondents reported feeling depressed at least once in the last seven days, and 82% of respondents reported feeling anxious at least once in the last seven days. This is the second in a series of polls fielded by Valley Vision and CapRadio, in partnership with the Institute for Social Research at Sac State. These surveys are helping us understand and navigate the challenges ahead as we aim to not just understand the impacts and recover from the setbacks of COVID-19, but also reimagine a more equitable, sustainable, and just future. (Valley Vision)

The impact of extreme temperatures on health and wellbeing is rising up policy agendas in many cities. The Excel-based Heat Resilient Cities benefits tool has been designed to help city planners and decision-makers to quantify the health, economic and environmental benefits of common urban heat adaptation actions. Cities can use this information to make the case for urban heat adaptation investments, and to prioritise the actions that are likely to have the most positive impact locally. Users can calculate the benefits brought by specific parks and green infrastructure, water bodies such as rivers and lakes, and cool and vegetative surfaces. (C40 Knowledge Hub)

The Tribal Climate Health Project hosted a live, national webinar series on Tribal Climate and Health Adaptation from August – December 2019. These webinars were recorded in full and provided below so others may benefit from the training at their own self-paced schedule. (Link)

The Greenlining Institute released a report on racial equity researchv. The report provides historical context on racism and exclusion in the research field, which still continues today, as well as challenges faced in advancing equitable research approaches for both community partners and researchers. The report offers suggestions for researchers, funders, and partners, and a stepwise process aimed at researchers who are committed to integrating racial equity and partnerships in their research projects. The report builds on the Strategic Growth Council’s 2019 Climate Change Research Symposium report and can be used to inform racially equitable research approaches in climate resilience research efforts. (Greenlining)

The CC4A program delivers electric vehicle incentives to eligible residents and is funded by Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund/California Climate Investment dollars administered by the California Air Resource Board. Up to $9,500 is available for income-qualified residents to retire their older vehicles and replace them with new or used, zero or partial-zero emissions vehicles, and the incentives can be combined with Clean Vehicle Rebate Project funds. (CC4A)

Please take this 5-minute survey to tell us about air pollution and possible solutions in your neighborhood – and enter into a contest for a Chromebook. (Link)

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) has announced that the California Community Reinvestment Grants (CalCRG) program Grant Solicitation for Fiscal Year 2020-21 is now available! For funding amounts, eligibility, and the application process, please review the Fiscal Year 2020-21 Grant Solicitation. The first phase of the application process must be completed no later than Monday, November 2, 2020, at 11:59 pm. (GO-Biz)

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, we made the decision to cancel the in-person 2020 California Adaptation Forum. We are now seeking input to inform a potential virtual 2021 CAF and hope that you can spend a few minutes to share your thoughts by November 12. (Link)

This program is designed to create new parks, expand, or improve existing parks, to increase park access in under-served communities. Projects in economically disadvantaged communities with a lack of parks are prioritized. Parks designed with community residents' ideas through community-based planning and partnerships with health organizations are encouraged. Eligible applications include nonprofits and local government agencies, including cities, counties, local park districts, and joint powers authorities. Deadline: December 14 at 11:59 pm PST. (Link)

The Northwest and Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Centers (NW CASC, SW CASC) invite statements of interest for tribal climate adaptation research projects to be initiated in Federal Fiscal Year 2021. The SW CASC is requesting statements of interest that specifically draw upon the application of traditional methods of ecosystem restoration and natural resource management, with special emphasis on fire in the context of climate change and adaptation. These projects can be used as seed funding in preparation for subsequent calls for proposals or focus on developing a process for implementing traditional practices and/or building bridges between western (conventional) and indigenous practices. Deadline: December 17. (SW CASC)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will reward states and communities that seek to address the effects of climate change under a new grant program that provides an unprecedented amount of money for resilience projects and planning. FEMA will allocate $500 million through its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program for mitigation efforts such as moving buildings out of floodplains and strengthening building codes. BRIC places an emphasis on addressing the effects of climate change; strengthening building codes; and using natural barriers such as wetlands, floodplains and reefs to build resilience to riverine flooding and sea-level rise. Local governments must apply as sub-applicants. Deadline: January 29, 2021. (FEMA)

The Flood Mitigation Assistance Program is a competitive grant program that provides funding to states, local communities, federally-recognized tribes and territories. Funds can be used for projects that reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings insured by the National Flood Insurance Program. $160 million is available through this program for the following: Project Scoping, Community Flood Mitigation Projects, Technical Assistance, Flood Hazard Mitigation Planning, and Individual Flood Mitigation Projects. Deadline: January 29, 2021. (FEMA)

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy issues grants to public agencies, nonprofits, and eligible tribes for projects that restore, protect, and enhance Sierra Nevada watersheds and communities. These grants are awarded under three programs: Forest & Watershed Health, Resilient Sierra Nevada Communities, and Vibrant Recreation & Tourism. Beginning July 2020, prospective applicants are invited to submit concept proposals, which are reviewed on a quarterly basis. Up to $5 million from Proposition 68 are available for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 funding cycles. (SNC)

The Clean Mobility Options Voucher Pilot provides funding for the design and implementation of clean mobility projects in California's historically underserved communities. $20 million is available in 2020 for two types of projects: 1) the Community Transportation Needs Assessment Vouchers help communities to engage residents to identify their biggest transportation needs; and 2) Mobility Project Vouchers fund the implementation of projects that increase access to transportation, designed with community priorities at the forefront. (Link)

California Climate Investments will host a series of webinars where grantees and agency staff will share pathways to success and resources available to help you receive funding for your sustainability project. Webinars will be tailored to specific target audiences with information about funding opportunities and helpful tips. Sessions currently scheduled are Land Conservancies (11/5), Non-profits (11/18), and Local Governments (12/9). (CCI)

The Institute for Local Government is celebrating Beacon Award winners virtually this year, in conjunction with the virtual Statewide Energy Efficiency Forum. Join us in a virtual award celebration, featuring recorded remarks from Former State Senator Fran Pavley, honoring 36 award-winning cities from across the state that have taken significant steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save energy, implement sustainability best practices, and so much more. (Register)

Is now the right time to rethink street design to favor people over cars? An international trend of “open streets,” also called “slow streets,” reflects a movement to reclaim streets from cars for people to sit, dine, or travel on foot and bicycle. However, it is unclear whether these street design experiments are a passing fad or whether they offer a window into the urbanist dream of a future of dense livable cities. Questions remain about whether city planners can utilize open street design to improve the experiences of low-income communities, people of color, people with disabilities, or people experiencing homelessness. (Register)

Interests in microgrids continues to grow as the number of microgrid projects increase and the value proposition becomes more evident. This webinar will explore common applications for microgrids and the benefits they can provide to tribal communities. Tribal case studies will highlight why and how those tribes chose to develop microgrids. (Register)

This session explores strategies to enable climate-resilient futures in agricultural and food systems. Speakers will highlight the future of farming, youth/civil society engagement, science-informed policymaking, social movements (including labor organizations, NGOs), commitments to socially sustainable benefits, long-term cultural and behavior change (including dietary), sustainable agriculture, food safety, food access/nutrition, environmental justice, etc. (UC Davis)

The second COVID-19 Resilience poll, from Valley Vision and CapRadio, is now public -- and it reflects the hardships being felt across the region in the truly difficult time we are going through. Together with our guests, we’ll highlight major findings from the poll and discuss insights into how it’s affecting lives, especially in terms of mental health impacts. (Register)

This UC Berkeley Fire Research Group seminar series covers the breadth of wildland fire research relevant to California. Topics include fire weather, wildfire risk, fire ecology, remote sensing, emissions, fire dynamics, fire modeling and public health. Featuring many early-career researchers, this series is aimed at a highly interdisciplinary academic audience but is open to anyone interested in these topics. (Register)

This webinar maps the energy efficiency measures, climate planning, and local partnerships that form the basis of energy efficiency implementation efforts in the San Diego region. Local jurisdictions in the San Diego region have been supported in their climate planning and implementation efforts by a range of organizations including planning agencies, utilities, and nonprofits. Mapping regional planning and energy efficiency efforts provides a unique opportunity to identify gaps, opportunities for further programming, and to highlight areas of success for replication. (Register)

The Climate Displacement Forum is a 5-part webinar series that will take an interconnected look at climate displacement pressures along with approaches to prevent displacement or adapt by exploring migration, current managed retreat and relocation strategies, equity implications, and policy considerations. Register for the series and attend any or all of the sessions: (Register)

Following years of devastating wildfires, California is in the midst of another record-breaking wildfire season that has enveloped the state in smoke, pushed our firefighting capacity to its limits, and taken the lives of dozens of Californians. What’s fueling these fires and where do we go from here? How can we learn from Indigenous practices and past emergency response and recovery efforts to equitably and rapidly build wildfire resilience? Join the Alliance of Regional Collaboratives for Climate Adaptation and the California Adaptation Forum as we explore these questions and more. (Register)

California is experiencing another historic year for wildfires, leading to the destruction of homes and structures, the displacement of residents, and lives lost. The resulting wildfire smoke covered much of the state, resulting in unhealthy air that impacted millions across California and beyond. In order to address these challenges, this meeting will focus on ways to protect communities from the health impacts of wildfire smoke, discuss guidance, resources and recent health effects research, and provide an opportunity for public input. (CDPH)

Local governments and regional organizations are seeking to encourage building decarbonization through a range of innovative policies. Electrification-focused action plans, reach codes, rebates, incentives, and other strategies are critical to supporting cities progress. This webinar will feature diverse local experts—each with a unique perspective on developing, adopting, and implementing effective local policies in California communities. Panelists will share details on the creative policy strategies each has considered and/or implemented through a lively exchange. They will explore the benefits, challenges, similarities, and differences between the policies. They will also explore partnerships and community engagement has been central to successful adoption. This session will hold important lessons learned and practical applications for other jurisdictions considering similar decarbonization policies. (Register)

Another SEEC forum is in the books and the SEEC program as we've known it is sunsetting after a decade of success. Join us to celebrate all we've learned together and help us think into a promising new chapter for CA local government energy efficiency collaboration. This event will feature updates from each SEEC NGO, new tools to help you access useful information, and a listening session where you can help drive what we do next. *Details subject to change* (Register)

The California-Nevada Drought & Climate Outlook Webinar is part of a series designed to provide timely information on current drought status and impacts. Over the course of the 2020 Water Year (Oct. 2019 - Sept. 2020), drought intensified over California-Nevada. On Oct. 13, 2020, over 80% of California and Nevada was in drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, including over 30% in extreme to exceptional drought. (Register)

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.