Adaptation Planning Resources

State of California Resources

• Cal-Adapt

Cal-Adapt is an online resource for viewing and downloading data about projected changes in climate conditions and associated natural hazards. It has several tools that allow users to view customized maps and charts showing changes over time. Adaptation planners can easily look at future conditions in their communities and how severe the impacts of climate change may be. Users can also download the datasets behind these maps and charts, allowing them to prepare their own graphics and conduct their own analyses. UC Berkeley’s Geospatial Innovation Facility, developed Cal-Adapt, with support from the California Energy Commission.

Visit cal-adapt.org
• California’s Climate Change Assessment

California’s Climate Change Assessment is a series of reports looking at future climate conditions throughout the state and the consequences that may result from them. The reports bring together extensive academic research and other studies and provides detailed information about specific changes. The Fourth Climate Change Assessment includes a statewide report, a set of regional reports looking at the effects of climate change in different parts of the state, topical reports that reflect perspectives and issues of statewide importance, and a number of technical reports on focused topics (for example, the impacts of changing wildfire risks on California’s residential insurance market). The Fourth Assessment should not be confused with the Fourth National Climate Assessment, a similar document about climate change and its potential for harm, which looks at the entire United States. The California Natural Resources Agency, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, and the California Energy Commission led preparation of the Fourth Assessment.

Visit climateassessment.ca.gov
• California Adaptation Clearinghouse

The Adaptation Clearinghouse is an online resource with links to California-specific climate adaptation and resilience resources. Users can filter resources by specific topics, such as public health, equity and environmental justice, or land use and community development. Under each topic is a summary of the issue and links to available resources. Users can further filter resources by type of resource, the climate change effects involved, the agencies behind the resource, and whether resources apply statewide or to specific regions. The Adaptation Clearinghouse also provides links to different climate datasets and case studies and example documents on numerous issues. The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research manages the Adaptation Clearinghouse.

Visit resilientca.org
• California Building Resilience Against Climate Effects

CalBRACE is a project of the California Department of Public Health’s Climate Change and Health Equity Program, with an online toolkit to help plan for the public health impacts of climate change. This program also produces climate change and health vulnerability indicators, which provide local data on climate change exposures, sensitivities, and adaptive capacities that can be helpful when assessing human health vulnerabilities. The CalBRACE framework aligns with the four phases in the Adaptation Planning Guide, with the addition of an additional step “to project the burden of disease.” The CalBRACE framework also focuses on identifying existing health, environmental, and social conditions as well as projecting how health conditions combine with climate threats to impact the health and well-being of communities. It provides a framework for public health adaptation planning, technical information and methods for assessing climate-related health vulnerabilities, and examples of best practices for building health resiliency. The toolkit also includes case studies that other communities can reference.

Visit CalBRACE
• CalEnviroScreen

CalEnviroScreen 3.0 is an online screening tool that identifies communities most affected by and vulnerable to the effects of many sources of pollution and population-based disparities. It aggregates state-wide environmental, health, and socioeconomic information to produce scores for every census tract in the state. A census tract with a high score is considered more disadvantaged than a community with a low score as a result of pollution burden and population characteristics. When overlaid with climate impact and exposure data, CalEnviroScreen can provide insight into built and environmental exposure factors that contribute to vulnerability.¹ The most visible part of CalEnviroScreen is a mapping and search function, but the tool also allows users to view and download the data behind the assessment. CalEnviroScreen was developed by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

Visit CalEnviroScreen 3.0
• California Heat Assessment Tool (CHAT)

CHAT is an online tool that provides detailed information about future extreme heat conditions across California. Users can view and download information about extreme heat for a specific location, including several weather variables, pollution levels, and demographic and land use factors that influence vulnerability to extreme heat conditions. The tool also has links to several other resources to help build resiliency to extreme heat events. The California Natural Resources Agency funded CHAT which Four Twenty Seven developed in partnership with Argos Analytics, Habitat Seven, and the Public Health Institute (PHI).

Visit cal-heat.org
• California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)

OEHHA assesses the health risks cause by environmental hazards throughout California. The mission of OEHHA is to protect human health and environmental through scientific evaluation of risks posed by hazardous substances. The indicators of climate change in California, used to develop CalEnviroScreen 3.0, were developed by OEHHA.

Visit oehha.ca.gov
• California State Hazard Mitigation Plan

The California State Hazard Mitigation Plan (SHMP) is a summary of the threat posed by hazardous conditions in the state, strategies to mitigate hazardous events, and information about resources to support hazard mitigation. Because many of the hazards in the SHMP relate to climate change, it is a useful resource for better understanding the threat posed by these hazardous conditions and the state’s current efforts to mitigate them. The California Office of Emergency Services leads preparation of the SHMP.

Visit SHMP
• MyPlan

MyPlan is an online tool that allows users to enter a location in California, such as a city or specific address, and view the potential hazards that may affect that location. The tool includes climate-related hazards, such as floods and wildfires, as well as non-climate hazards such as seismic activity. It brings together mapping data from a variety of sources. Users can browse statewide hazard maps and export maps and mapping data for other purposes. The California Office of Emergency Services developed MyPlan.

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• Ocean Protection Council Resources

California’s Ocean Protection Council’s Climate Change Program publishes multiple resources meant to assist coastal communities with adapting to ocean-related climate hazards and building resiliency for oceanic assets. Resources include State of California Sea-Level Rise Guidance studies and reports on ocean acidification and its effects, and opportunities for grant funding on relevant issues. The Ocean Protection Council also works on issues such as marine pollution and sustainable fisheries, which may relate to climate change resiliency for some communities.

Visit OPC Climate Change Program
• California Coastal Commission

The California Coastal Commission developed Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance and Coastal Adaptation Planning Guidance: Residential Development to provide an overview of the best available science on sea level rise in California and recommend planning and regulatory actions for adaptation. These guidance documents are intended to serve as a multi-purpose resource and includes a high level of detail on many subjects pertaining to sea level rise. The Coastal Adaptation Planning Guidance: Residential Development guidance provides a range of land use policies to facilitate planning for resilient coastal communities.

Visit coastal.ca.gov
• Building Blocks: A Comprehensive Housing Element Guide

The Building Blocks Guide is a comprehensive resource explaining requirements, state of practice, and useful examples under State Housing Element Law. The California Department of Housing and Community Development’s (HCD) Building Blocks Guide was created to assist jurisdictions in developing housing elements that address varying groups and other land issues. It also provides resources for local governments to build community resilience among vulnerable populations, including those experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.

Visit coastal.ca.gov
• Planning and Investing for a Resilient California

Planning and Investing for a Resilient California, developed by OPR’s Technical Advisory group, is a guidebook for state agencies to integrate climate change considerations into every aspect of government. Its guidance on scenario selection, identification of vulnerable communities, community engagement, and fostering equity are applicable to local adaptation planning.

Visit Resilient California
• Sea the Future

Developed by the Coastal Conservancy, NOAA, and the Sentinel Site Cooperative in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Sea the Future resource provides a platform that highlights all tools available for visualizing sea level rise in California. It has a filter and compare tool with filters such as geographic scope, shoreline processes, exposure analysis and projected flooding information display, to identify which sea level rise tool matches the user’s needs.

Visit seathefuture.org
• From Mountains to Cities: Exploring California’s Urban Connections to Sierra Nevada Ecosystems

From Mountain to Cities, developed by the Alliance of Regional Collaboratives for Climate Adaptation, describes the interconnections between upstream rural communities, and downstream urban areas. This whitepaper focuses on the resources that the Sierra Nevada Mountains provide communities throughout the state and presents the need for urgent and ongoing collaboration to address current and future climate related hazards.

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• Climate Ready Program

The Climate Ready Program, administered by the California Coastal Conservancy, provides grant funding to multi--benefit projects that use natural systems to assist communities in adapting to the effects of climate change. This program has awarded $10.7 million for 57 projects throughout the state that provide both adaptation and greenhouse gas reductions. Eligible grantees include government agencies, non-profit organizations, and federally recognized tribes with projects that use nature-based solutions, promote collaboration, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, address the needs of underserved coastal populations, promote on-the-ground demonstration projects, and incorporate outreach and education.

Visit Climate Ready Program

Federal Resources

• FEMA’s Local Mitigation Planning Handbook

FEMA’s Local Mitigation Planning Handbook is a guidance document to help communities across the country develop hazard mitigation plans. Although hazard mitigation plans are not necessarily identical to adaptation planning efforts, there is significant overlap between the two. The guidance and resources in this handbook can also be used for adaptation planning. The handbook includes information about assembling stakeholders and conducting outreach, determining community capabilities, assessing the potential for harm, and developing hazard mitigation strategies. It also contains checklists and worksheets for use throughout the hazard mitigation process. The was last updated in 2013.

Visit Hazard Mitigation Planning
• US Census Bureau’s Data.census.gov

US Census Bureau’s Data.census.gov is an online database hosted by the US Census Bureau that allows users to view, download, and map results from the decennial census, the annual American Community Survey, and other specialized surveys and analyses carried out by the Census Bureau. This updated database also includes a mapping feature that allows planners to visually display the results of the data. Adaptation planners can use the website to understand the demographic and other socioeconomic characteristics of a community, such as how many residents belong to a particular frontline community.

Visit data.census.gov
• US Climate Resilience Toolkit

The US Climate Resilience Toolkit is a set of national resources to assist practitioners in conducting climate adaptation work. It provides a number of tools for looking up climate change–related data, guidance documents on the climate adaptation process, and case studies on improving resiliency. The Climate Resilience Toolkit also includes videos and other training modules on adaptation-related topics. The toolkit is a program of the United States Global Change Research Program.

Visit toolkit.climate.gov
• Regional Resilience Toolkit

The Regional Resilience Toolkit, prepared by FEMA and EPA in partnership with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission/Association of Bay Area Governments, is a toolkit to help with regional disaster planning across multiple jurisdictions and with non-governmental partners. This toolkit provides a 5-step process with helpful worksheets and outreach materials, to help communities plan for resilience, or move from planning to action.

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• NOAA’s Digital Coast

NOAA’s Digital Coast is a comprehensive platform for data, tools, and training for communities to address coastal issues. One-way adaptation-related resources can be accessed on the site by topic area, including adaptation strategies, coastal economy, coastal land cover, coastal storms, natural infrastructure, risk communication, vulnerability assessments, and water quality. This website provides data, information, and technical support that can be applied in California at state, regional, and local levels.

Visit NOAA’s Digital Coast
• Federal Highway Administration Nature-Based Solutions

Federal Highway Administration Nature-Based Solutions. The Federal Highway Administration provides resources, pilot studies, webinars, and examples of nature-based solutions that help protect coastal highways from sea level rise, flooding, and coastal erosion. The implementation guide provides best practices for how and where nature-based and hybrid solutions can be used to improve the resilience of coastal roads and bridges. This resource also provides research and technical assistance from transportation practitioners across the country.

Visit Nature-Based Solutions
• Guidance for Considering the Use of Living Shorelines

Guidance for Considering the Use of Living Shorelines was developed in 2015 by NOAA to provide insight on implementing a living shoreline along estuarine coasts, bays, and tributaries. The guidance document provides information for addressing shoreline erosion through natural solutions that add stability. It also discusses NOAA’s role in reviewing living shoreline projects in critical habitat, essential fish habitat, or protected areas.

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Nongovernmental Resources

• Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange

The Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange (CAKE) was launched in 2010 as a shared knowledge base for managing the natural and built systems in the face of climate change. CAKE includes case studies and documents from across the world. This resource also includes several tribal nation examples in the United States.

Visit cakex.org
• Guide to Equitable Community-Driven Climate Preparedness Planning

The Guide to Equitable Community-Driven Climate Preparedness Planning, prepared by the Urban Sustainability Directors Network in 2017, provides guidance on how to complete an equitable climate adaptation planning process. This guide provides background on inequities in planning, as well as a framework conducting an inclusive climate preparedness process. Table 8 of this guide demonstrates considerations and strategies that can be integrated into climate adaptation measures to account for social and climate justice inequities in communities.

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• Making Equity Real in Climate Adaptation and Community Resilience Policies and Programs: A Guidebook

The Greenlining Institute aims to advance economic opportunity and empowerment for people of color through advocacy, community building, and leadership development. This guidebook prioritizes the climate adaptation and community resilience needs of frontline communities and offers planning staff a step-by-step process for defining equity in measurable factors in policies and grant programs. These steps include embedding equity in the mission, vision, and values; building equity in the process; ensuring equitable outcomes; and measuring and analyzing for equity.

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• Healthy Places Index

The Healthy Places Index, developed by the Public Health Alliance of Southern California, is an interactive mapping tool that combines 25 community characteristics into a weighted score that ranks census tracts across California for conditions that support health. It displays some climate change exposures, sensitivities, and adaptive capacities in “decision support layers” to assist in assessing climate and health vulnerability and planning for policy changes to support community resilience.

Visit healthyplacesindex.org
• Mapping Resilience

Mapping Resilience, prepared by the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, aims to raise the public visibility of the needs of frontline communities within statewide climate adaptation and resilience efforts. For adaptation planning, the report provides research and resources on communities disproportionately impacted by climate change–related disasters in California and lessons learned from examples across the US; key existing indicators, data, tools, and analytical frameworks for understanding the intersection of climate impacts, health and well-being outcomes, socioeconomic vulnerability, and adaptive capacity factors; and lessons learned from development and use of indicators in related fields (e.g., public health, environmental justice, and land use).

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• Community-Driven Climate Resilience Planning Framework

Community-Driven Climate Resilience Planning Framework was developed by the Movement Strategy Center and community-based organizations across the country to strengthen climate adaptation efforts through culturally relevant, democratic processes with meaningful community engagement. The primary audience of this resource is community-based organizations developing, advocating for, and implementing climate solutions; however, local government staff can use this resource to help increase cross-sector collaboration and increase the community’s voice and leadership role in the adaptation process.

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• Coastal Adaptation Policy Briefs

The Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions developed a set of Coastal Adaptation Policy Briefs that provide engineering, financial, and legal and regulatory solutions for coastal resources. Each policy brief introduces coastal adaptation strategy, describes trade-offs and any legal considerations, and illustrates examples of projects along the California coast. The financial resources include buyout programs, conservation easements, geologic hazard abatement districts, and transfer of development rights solutions.

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• Tribal Climate Change Adaptation Planning Template

This toolkit, developed by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, contains templates and other resources to support tribal climate change efforts. It includes guidance on procedures and methods, worksheets for identifying the potential harm posed by climate change and developing policies in response to these vulnerabilities, and guidance for thinking about effective implementation. The toolkit also contains a list of tribal climate change assessments and adaptation plans from several different states.

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