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Climate Mitigation and Adaptation News
June 13, 2018
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A biweekly newsletter of the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative
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U.S. insurers unprepared for climate change disasters
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Most U.S. insurance companies have not adapted their strategies to address the dangers of climate change, making them likely to raise rates or deny coverage in high-risk areas, said a study. With predictions of an above-average Atlantic hurricane season approaching, thousands of people could be unable to afford insurance protection or lose it altogether. In 2015, only 3 percent out of a sample of 178 U.S. property insurers and reinsurers were taking into account climate change in corporate governance, underwriting and investment. (
Reuters)
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In the fire-scarred Wine Country, new help for the blind in disasters
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Photo: Jessica Christian / The Chronicle
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Disasters are overwhelming for everyone. For the disabled, they are that and more. In Santa Rosa, a community center is teaching blind and visually impaired people how to prepare for disasters and evacuate. (
SF Chronicle)
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Federal Reserve: Climate change could deeply hurt US economic growth
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Photo: Tony Gutierrez/AP
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A
working paper from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond concludes that global warming could significantly slow economic growth in the US - by 10 to 20 percent if we continue our current GHG emissions trajectory. Specifically, rising summertime temperatures in the hottest states will curb economic growth, with the southern US being particularly impacted. This paper is consistent with a 2015 Nature study that found the optimal temperature range for economic activity is an average of around 14°C (57°F). Developed countries like the US, Japan, and much of Europe happen to be near that ideal temperature, but continued global warming will shift their climates away from the sweet spot and slow economic growth. (
Guardian)
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Drought or no drought: California gets permanent water conservation rules
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Photo: Joshua Sudock / Orange County Register
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Governor Brown signed SB 606 and AB 1668, which will require cities, water districts and large agricultural water districts to set strict annual water budgets. Water budgets will be based on three main factors: an allowance of 55 gallons per person per day for indoor water use, dropping to 50 gallons by 2030; a yet-to-be determined amount for residential outdoor use that will depend on regional climates; and a standard for water loss due to leak rates. Last year, urban Californians used an average of 90 gallons of water per person per day for indoor and outdoor use combined, down from 109 gallons in 2013. (
Link)
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| How much water should California cities use? New data could help |
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Photo: Florence Low / The California Department of Water Resources |
A useful outcome of the 2013-17 drought was long-needed reporting data on monthly urban water use and conservation. This reporting has continued, creating a growing repository for measuring trends. The data helps understand how much water California cities actually use, including trends over time, across geography, and seasons. But importantly, can it help understand how much water California cities should use? With as much as 50% of water going to outdoor landscaping, residents need better tools, information, and guidelines on soil and irrigation practices. (
Link)
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| Facing climate and water pressures, farmers return to age-old practice |
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Photo: George Rose/Getty Images
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Cover cropping enhances soil nutrition and improve plant growth, but was replaced by the use of chemical fertilizers after WWII. Today just 5 percent of California growers are using cover crops but that's increasing as hotter and drier conditions affect the state. Central Valley growers are planting grasses and legumes under their trees to increase carbon and nitrogen in their soils. And as implementation of the state's new drought-driven groundwater regulation approaches, they are testing the ability of cover crops to increase the amount of water stored in the ground that grows their nuts and vegetables. (
Link)
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| What will we eat in 2050? California farmers are placing bets |
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Photo: Grist/Armin Staudt/EyeEm/Fridhold/Jakob/Douglas Sacha/Getty Images |
For California farmers planting trees now that will bear fruit 25 years later, climate change and weird weather have to be reckoned with now. Scientists predict that the state will become drier and conditions will be less favorable to orchard crops, yet farmers have to balance other concerns as they decide between lemons and avocados. (
Grist)
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California Healthy Places Index
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The California Healthy Places Index (HPI) is a powerful new tool, developed by the Public Health Alliance of Southern California, to assist in exploring local factors that predict life expectancy and comparing community conditions across the state. The HPI provides overall scores and more detailed data on specific policy action areas that shape health, like housing, transportation, education and more. Climate change exposure, social vulnerability, and adaptive capacity indicators have been added as decision support layers, making HPI the first statewide climate change and health vulnerability mapping tool. (
HPI)
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Extreme weather events: How hard lessons strengthen resilience
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Communities are spending money on disasters at the wrong time and for the wrong things, according to
an analysis from Zurich Insurance Group. The global insurer found that every $1 spent on "disaster resilience" saves $5 in limiting future costs, including post-storm cleanup efforts, but most communities continue to underspend on preparedness. And when communities do invest on prevention, it goes to protecting physical structures rather than more cost-effective risk management strategies such as environmental planning - for example, floodwater reduction through upper watershed reforestation. The report also concluded that infrastructure protection already in place - such as levees - can lead to a false sense of security, and few incentives exist to encourage resilient rebuilding. (
Link)
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Free Resource & Energy Business Evaluation Program to assist local businesses
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As part of its multi-departmental climate program, the City of Chula Vista passed an ordinance establishing the FREE Resource & Energy Business Evaluation (FREBE) Program to assist local businesses in improving energy and water efficiency. The measure requires commercial and industrial businesses to receive free energy and water evaluations of their premises at the time of initial business license issuance and every 3 - 5 years thereafter as part of the business license renewal process. The FREBE program helps businesses identify energy efficiency and water efficiency opportunities at their facilities and, at the discretion of the business, also take advantage of rebate, incentive, and financing programs to make facility improvements. (
Link)
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Adaptation in Action: Success Stories from Public Health Departments
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This reports highlights success stories from health departments across the US that have received BRACE grants to address climate health impacts. Developed by the Centers for Disease Control, the BRACE (Building Resilience Against Climate Effects) framework guides local health departments in preparing for and responding to climate change, enabling them to identify their vulnerabilities and develop localized strategies and programs. Case studies come from Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, Oregon, and more. (
Link)
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Organize a networking meeting at the California Adaptation Forum
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The California Adaptation Forum is now accepting proposals for network meetings, specifically in the morning of Wednesday, August 29th. These meetings are a great opportunity to bring together participants and stakeholders within your network to reconnect, strategize next steps following the forum, and more! Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis - we encourage you to get your proposals in early to secure a spot. (
Link)
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| Apply to be a CivicSpark Fellow today! |
CivicSpark is Recruiting for Fellows for 2018-19! Over the past 3 years, CivicSpark, the Local Government Commission's Governor's Initiative AmeriCorps program, has provided 230,000+ hours of climate and water capacity-building support to over 140 public agencies. This coming year, the program is offering three thematic tracks: Climate (50 fellows), Water (20 fellows), and a new Opportunity Access track (20 fellows) that will focus on affordable housing, alternative transportation, and rural broadband. First priority deadline: June 1. (
Learn more and apply)
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Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program (EEM) 2018 grant cycle
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The program offers grants to local, state, and federal governmental agencies as well as nonprofit organizations for projects to mitigate environmental impacts caused by new or modified transportation facilities. Grants are generally limited to $500,000 for development projects and up to $1 million for acquisition projects. Deadline: June 20, 5pm. (
Link)
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2018 SEEC Cohort Training: Climate Action Planning
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The 2018 SEEC GHG Climate Action Planning Training Session is a structured technical assistance program to guide California local governments through the steps of creating a community-wide Climate Action Plan (CAP). The 14-week training session is available at no cost to cities. ICLEI will assist up to 15 cities, counties, or regional entities to scope out and prepare to develop a CAP. The training is appropriate for communities that are developing a CAP for the first time, or those that are updating an existing plan and want to expand or refocus the scope of that plan. Deadline: June 22, 2018. (
Link)
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U.S. Forest Service Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program
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The Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program offers a unique opportunity for communities to acquire and conserve forests that provide public access and recreational opportunities, protect vital water supplies and wildlife habitat, serve as demonstration sites for private forest landowners, and provide economic benefits from timber and non-timber products. Local government and nonprofit applicants must submit applications to the State Forester, and tribes to the appropriate Tribal government officials by June 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 first phase will run from January 16 through June 30, 2018. The second phase will open July 15 through December 31, 2018. (
Link)
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BIA Resilience Funding Opportunity for Tribes
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The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) seeks proposals from federally recognized tribes to receive grants of up to $150,000 that support resilience and ocean and coastal management and planning. This program supports tribes preparing for extreme events and harmful environmental trends that impact tribal treaty and trust resources, economies, infrastructure, and human health and safety. The program will provide funding for tribal projects that support tribal resilience and ocean and coastal management planning as tribes incorporate science (including Traditional Knowledge) and technical information to prepare for the impacts of extreme events and harmful environmental trends. Deadline: July 2. (
Link)
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BIA Resilience Funding Opportunity for Tribal Organizations
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This Bureau of Indian Affairs grant is similar to the one above, but applicants will be tribal not-for-profit and tribal non-governmental organizations and associations. Deadline: July 12. (
Link)
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Bloomberg Philanthropies: American Cities Climate Challenge
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The American Cities Climate Challenge is an unprecedented opportunity for 20 ambitious cities to significantly deepen and accelerate their efforts to tackle climate change and promote a sustainable future for their residents. The $70 million competition will select 20 cities for a two-year acceleration program, with powerful new resources, a robust technical assistance and support package, and unprecedented access to world-leading support. The challenge is open to the 100 most populous US cities, including Sacramento and Stockton. Deadline: July 19. (
Link)
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SACOG: 2018 Regional Funding Program
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Combining previous Regional/Local and Bicycle & Pedestrian funding programs, SACOG's 2018 Regional Program will fund cost-effective transportation projects that realize the performance benefits of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (MTP/SCS). The program seeks to promote effective and efficient use of limited state and federal funding resources to both develop and maintain the regional transportation network and provide regional benefits. This is accomplished through the funding of capital and lump-sum category projects included in the 2016 MTP/SCS. Deadline: 4pm, July 19, 2018. (
Link)
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Partners for Places Grant Program
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The Partners for Places Grant Program has released the RFP for Round 13 of its matching grant program, which improves US and Canadian communities by building partnerships between local government sustainability leaders and place-based foundations. National funders invest in local projects to promote a healthy environment, a strong economy, and well-being of all residents. The grant program will provide partnership investments between $25,000 and $75,000 for one year projects, or $50,000 and $150,000 for two year projects, with a 1:1 match required by one or more local foundations. Deadline: July 31. (
Link)
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Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART Grants: Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects
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This Small-Scale Water Efficiency Project grant opportunity supports specific small-scale water efficiency projects that have been prioritized through planning efforts led by the applicant. These projects conserve and use water more efficiently; mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict; and accomplish other benefits that contribute to water supply reliability in the western United States. Deadline July 31, 2018. (
Link)
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Apply now for Active Transportation Program grants up to $5 million
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The California Transportation Commission is now accepting applications for Cycle 4 of the Active Transportation Program. Funded through the California Climate Investments, this grant program was created to help make it safer and easier for Californians to walk and bike in their communities. Grant applications of up to $5 million will be accepted until July 31. (
Link)
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4th National Adaptation Forum: Call for Proposals is Open!
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Proposals are being accepted for Symposia, Training Sessions, Working Groups, Oral Presentations, Posters, and the Tools Cafe. Submissions should reflect the best thinking in the adaptation field, informed by theory, research and practice on subjects related to identified focal topics and cross-cutting themes. Deadline is August 3, 2018. (
Link)
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Land and Water Conservation Fund Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program
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This program provides grants to acquire and/or develop public lands for outdoor recreation purposes consistent with the purposes of the LWCF, but with the further specific goals of funding projects that are located within or serve jurisdictions delineated by the Census Bureau as urbanized areas, and are in or directly accessible to neighborhoods or communities that are underserved in terms of parks and recreation resources, and where there are significant populations of people who are economically disadvantaged. Deadline: September 14. (
Link)
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| Webinar: Introducing the California Healthy Places Index
Thursday, June 14, 10-11am
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The California Healthy Places Index (HPI) is a powerful new tool to help explore health and community data from across the state. During this webinar you'll learn how HPI can be used to explore community conditions that predict life expectancy, compare and rank scores and find actionable policy solutions. (
Register)
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| Strategic Growth Council: Transformative Climate Communities Program Workshop
Monday, June 18, 5.30pm
Oakland City Hall, Council Chambers, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland
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| Webinar: Agile and Sustainable City Planning
Tuesday, June 19, 11am-noon
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Planners from Madison, Wisconsin, and the Sonoma County Transportation Authority will discuss how new planning software solutions developed by UrbanFootprint are helping them better support their communities. Cities produce so much data, yet harnessing that data to distill actionable insights is a critical hurdle. Planning workflows are often cumbersome and inefficient, and planners are challenged with communicating complex outcomes in clear ways. (
Link)
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| 9th Annual Statewide Energy Efficiency Forum
June 20-21, Sacramento
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The SEEC Forum aims to provide learning, sharing, and networking opportunities to help local governments save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their communities, and catalyze climate action. The forum will feature engaging sessions, expert plenaries and keynotes, and new innovative activities to help energy leaders and practitioners connect to learn about innovative projects and strategies, share best practices, and troubleshoot challenges. (
Link)
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| Third Annual California Water Boards Science Symposium: Adapting in the Face of Disruptive Landscape Change
June 20-21, 2018
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The Water Board's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) is hosting the 3rd Annual California Water Board's Science Symposium, focused on the theme of Adapting in the Face of Disruptive Landscape Change. Presentations and posters will describe how to collect, manage, and communicate monitoring information in anticipation of landscape change in response to long-term drivers such as climate change, population growth, and land use change, as well as rapid drivers such as fires, droughts, and floods. Remote attendance only. (
Register)
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| Webinar: Three Revolutions - Transforming Transportation
Monday, June 25, 10.15-11.45am
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Automated, shared and electric - these new transportation technologies have the potential to transform communities and infrastructure. Will the rapidly evolving transport sector live up to its promise of creating healthier, more equitable and livable cities? Or lead to increased congestion and sprawl? Join this discussion led by Dr. Daniel Sperling on the three revolutions transforming the passenger transit sector. (
Register)
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| 2018 California Safe Drinking Water Data Challenge
Tuesday, June 26, 9am-4pm
Google Community Space, 188 The Embarcadero, San Francisco
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On any given day, around 200,000 Californians turn on their taps and the water that comes out is unsafe to drink. Join the launch of the 2018 California Safe Drinking Water Data Challenge and help ensure access to safe drinking water for all Californians. The Challenge is designed to explore data's potential to help us better understand community access to safe drinking water, anticipate vulnerabilities, and identify and deploy solutions. (
Link)
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| Webinar: Understanding Opportunity Zones
Tuesday, June 26, 11am-noon
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Last December, federal lawmakers created the Opportunity Zones program for investors to re-invest their unrealized capital gains into Opportunity Funds, private investment vehicles dedicated to community, business, real estate, and economic development activities in America's lowest-income communities. This webinar will provide a background and analysis of the program, as well as recommendations for cities, philanthropies, advocates, and private sector representatives interested in Opportunity Fund creation, operation, and management and equitable development outcomes throughout the
7,927 newly designated Opportunity Zones. (
Register)
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| Regional Meetings for the 2030 California Natural and Working Lands Climate Change Implementation Plan
Tuesday, June 26, 1-3pm
Mary L. Stephens Davis Library, 315 E. 14th Street, Davis
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The 2030 Natural and Working Lands Climate Change Implementation Plan (NWL Plan) will describe the State's GHG reduction goal for natural and working lands, and provides a blueprint to achieve it through state-funded activities. The NWL Plan will detail regional targets for a variety of state-funded conservation, restoration, and management practices that sequester carbon, such as wetland and meadow restoration, fuel reduction and forest management, and avoided land use conversion. These workshops will seek engagement with local stakeholders to ensure that draft regional acreage targets are inclusive of significant local plans, goals, and programs; and better understand local priorities and stakeholder needs for successful regional implementation of the NWL Plan.
RSVP for the Davis meeting, or
view other dates and times.
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| Webinar: Evaluating Tribal Utility Authority Opportunities
Wednesday, June 27, 10am-noon
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Many tribes have found success in facilitating energy development on native lands by advancing initiatives under some form of tribal utility authority. In this webinar, tribal leaders and community members will learn about the benefits and challenges of forming a tribal utility authority, including the many opportunities associated with wholesale tariffs, direct access service, net-metering arrangements, and use of substations and infrastructure, among other utility services. If you cannot participate live, webinar recordings and slides can be found
here. (
Register)
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| APA Speaker Series: Planning in an Era of Increasing Uncertainty and Disruption
Friday, June 29, 8.30-10.30am
West Sacramento Community Center, 1075 West Capitol Avenue, West Sacramento
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Is the planning profession prepared to respond effectively to rapidly advancing technology, changing environmental conditions, and ever-evolving social and demographic circumstances? In this kick-off to the Speaker Series, state and local APA leaders will frame the challenges facing planners and our colleagues in affiliated professions. Join in a discussion of whether the "predict-and-plan" model of planning is capable of addressing the uncertainty and disruption associated with technological, environmental, and social change. Weigh-in on the implications of shifting to an "anticipate and adapt" model, including potential legal and institutional impediments. (
Link)
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| Cleaner Air Partnership: Quarterly Luncheon
Friday, June 29, 11.30am-1.30pm
Community Room, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, 3333 3rd Avenue, Sacramento
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At the June meeting, the Cleaner Air Partnership will provide an update on its efforts to ensure that the Capital Region wins a proportionate share of state Cap & Trade funds for air quality-related projects. The coalition has been hard at work engaging the regional delegation in the State Capitol, and there is much to discuss. (
Register)
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| Seminar: Tiny Houses: A Sustainable, Eco-Friendly and Affordable Housing Solution
Friday, June 29, 1.30-3.30pm
Oakland, CA
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The tiny house movement is no longer a fad, but becoming an integral part of housing offerings and opportunities. Communities throughout the US are amending building and zoning codes to permit tiny houses in both tiny house villages and as accessory dwelling units. This seminar will discuss tiny houses as an affordable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional housing and as a partial solution to California's housing crisis, changes in laws and building codes, regulatory issues, and more. Cost is $135, includes AIA LU/HSW credits. (
Register)
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| Sierra Nevada Alliance Conference: Regional Resilience
August 15-17, Kings Beach, CA
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Attendees will collaborate and learn innovative ways to enhance the ecological resiliency of the Sierra. There are many opportunities and constraints that stand before us, but as a true alliance we can succeed. The Sierra Nevada Alliance is planning a progressive, provocative agenda, with many networking opportunities, and fun to be had throughout. (
Link)
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| Save the date for the 3rd California Adaptation Forum
August 27-29, 2018, Sacramento, CA
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Join the Local Government Commission and the State of California at the 3rd California Adaptation Forum taking place August 28-29 (with pre-forum workshops on August 27), 2018, in Downtown Sacramento. The Forum gathers a multidisciplinary audience of 600+ climate leaders to foster knowledge exchange, innovation, and mutual support to transition from adaptation awareness to planning and action through a series of engaging plenaries, sessions, workshops, networking activities, and more. (
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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