Climate change will impact California in a number of critical
ways, including impacts on agriculture from changing in weather
patterns, water availability, increased severe heat events,
droughts, heavy rains, reduced snow pack, rising sea levels, and
changes in disease patterns. Thus, California cities and counties
need to begin to plan now to adapt to the impacts of climate
change.
Cal-adapt is a web-based climate adaptation planning tool.
Cal-adapt allows the user to identify potential climate change
risks in specific geographic areas throughout the state. Users
can either query by location, or click on an interactive map to
explore what climate impacts are projected to occur in their area
of interest.
The Institute for Local Government’s Sustainable Communities Learning Network hosted a free webinar on Tuesday, May 15 on “Climate Adaptation Planning Tools for California Local Governments.”
Released in 2009, this multi-sector strategy is designed to help
guide California’s efforts in adapting to climate change impacts.
The California Natural Resources Agency, in coordination with
other state agencies, are updating the Climate Adaptation
Strategy in 2012 and will seek public comment in 2013.
The Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange (CAKE) offers case
stories, recommended tools, a virtual library of resources, a
directory of organizations and individuals working on climate
adaptation and community forums. CAKE is a joint project of
Island Press and EcoAdapt.
This paper looks at the relationship between climate change and public health and provides strategies to consider to meet the potential public health impacts of climate change.
The California Environmental Health Tracking Program hosts
information on the trends and distributions of diseases and
environmental threats across California. Users can view
maps related to climate change vulnerability and query
heat-related illness data by county.
Adaptation planning in the Bay Area is defining what it means to
live with a rising Bay. Access reports and projects by the
San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC)
that reflects the current state of knowledge regarding the
potential impacts of climate change on the region.
CoolCalifornia.org is a new one-stop-shop for all Californians
filled with quick, easy-to-use and reliable tools that
Californians need to save money and reduce their impact on the
climate.
The U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) integrates federal
research on climate and global change, as sponsored by thirteen
federal agencies and overseen by the Office of Science and
Technology Policy, the Council on Environmental Quality, the
National Economic Council and the Office of Management and
Budget.
The Oregon Department of Energy maintains a Climate Change Portal
to help meet the challenge of climate change. Access
reports and adaptation guides for different sectors affected by
climate change impacts.
The USGS California Water Science Center brings many capabilities
and tools to the understanding, management and protection of
California’s water and other natural resources.
The Beacon Award is sponsored by the Statewide Energy Efficiency
Collaborative, which offers no-cost resources to support the
energy and climate initiatives of California local governments.
Click here to learn more.
