Planning for Climate Change: A Workshop for Bay Area Planners (OAKLAND)
Workshop participants will learn how to approach planning for climate change impacts in Bay Area communities. They will receive information, tools, resources and local examples that help them identify how their communities may be vulnerable to climate change, and address these vulnerabilities in their... [MORE]
REGISTRATION OPENS: Tue, Aug 4, 2009
DEADLINE TO REGISTER: Tue, Sep 15, 2009
SEATS AVAILABLE: 0 of 45REGISTRATION FOR THIS PROGRAM IS CLOSED
COST: FREE
CONTACT:
Sarah Polgar
sarahp@bcdc.ca.gov
DESCRIPTION
Workshop participants will learn how to approach planning for climate change impacts in Bay Area communities. They will receive information, tools, resources and local examples that help them identify how their communities may be vulnerable to climate change, and address these vulnerabilities in their existing projects and programs.
Led by experienced NOAA Coastal Services Center staff and Bay Area guest speakers, this interactive workshop will cover:
- impacts of climate change in the Bay Area
- fundamental concepts in planning for climate change
- information, tools and resources for understanding vulnerabilities to climate change impacts in Bay Area communities and taking steps to address these risks
- techniques for community engagement and building political support for planning for climate change impacts
- adaptation planning efforts at the California state and Bay Area regional levels, and their implications for local planning efforts
This workshop is designed for city / county planners, planning consultants, and public works staff.
SPONSORED BY:
PRESENTERS
DOCUMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS
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| DOCUMENT | AUTHOR SOURCE PUBLICATION DATE |
|---|---|
| WORKSHOP MATERIALS | |
| Agenda (Oakland) PDF, 134KB |
|
| Agenda (Sunnyvale) PDF, 146KB |
|
| Presentation 1: Climate Change Science and Impacts PDF, 11.6MB |
Adam Parris |
| Presentation 2: Fundamental Concepts in Planning for Climate Change PDF, 5.5MB |
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| Presentation 3: Addressing Barriers to Adapting to Climate Change PDF, 2.7MB |
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| Presentation 4: Community Engagement and Planning for Climate Change PDF, 2MB |
Pete Peterson |
| Presentation 5: Vulnerability Assessment PDF, 5.4MB |
Russell Jackson |
| Presentation 6: Tools and Resources PDF, 2.8MB |
Sara Polgar |
| Presentation 7: CA Climate Adaptation Strategy PDF, 66KB |
Sam Schuchat |
| Presentation 8: Planning for Sea Level Rise on the Hayward Shoreline PDF, 0B |
Jeremy Lowe |
| Vulnerability Assessment Worksheet PDF, 30KB |
|
| OTHER INFORMATION | |
| Annotated Table of Contents - START HERE! DOC, 291KB Read this document first for an organized overview of the resources on this site. |
Polgar, Sara Oct 2009 |
| Adaptation Planning Principles and Process | |
| Adaptive Management: The U.S. Department of the Interior Technical Guide Guidebook on adaptive management (which is not synonymous with adaptation) techniques. The guidebook identifies the "conditions in which adaptive management should be considered, and describe the process of using adaptive management for managing natural resources." Chapter 1 is a good primer on adaptive management and helps the reader understand what it means to say that a project/program will be "managed adaptively" and how to determine whether that's an appropriate management approach for addressing various climate change issues. |
US Department of the Interior 2009 |
| Ask the Climate Question:Adapting to Climate Change Impacts in Urban Regions Document summarizes adaptation progress by the Initiative partners (including SF). Most interesting is the discussion of lessons learned (pages 4-7). |
Urban Leaders Adaptation Initiative. Center for Clean Air Policy. June 2009 |
| Cities Preparing for Climate Change: A Study of 6 Urban Regions This report is focused primarily on city and urban region government level and provides a high-level process and case-study oriented overview approach. The framework detailed in the report focuses heavily on stakeholder input. There is a collection of adaptive steps and anecdotal examples and best practices. Section 3.1 of this report on urban and regional adaptation planning efforts has an excellent review of community engagement and awareness-building approaches taken by the 6 cities, as well as the effectiveness of these approaches. |
Clean Air Partnership 2007 |
| Climate Change: Developer's Risk Management Guide Risk assessment and management guide for developers. Module 3 (starts page 15) provides potentially relevant information for planners about adaptation and risk management (starting page 20). |
Canada Climate SMART August 2007 |
| How Resilient is Your Community?: A Guide for Evaluating Coastal Community Resilience to Tsunamis and Other Hazards Has an excellent illustration (Figure 3-1) of what the term "resilience" means on Page 3-2. |
U.S. Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System Program. USAID 2007 |
| Identifying Adaptation Options Relatively short document that articulates guiding principles for adaptation, types of adaptation strategies, selecting adaptations as well as examples of generic and specific adaptation actions. |
London Climate Impacts Group |
| Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional and State Governments A “how-to” manual for taking adaptation all the way from theory to implementation, specifically designed for local and regional governments. This guidebook provides detailed information necessary for policy construction, a table of possible adaptive strategies, a framework for assessing vulnerability and a section on implementation and lessons learned. |
ICLEI; King County, Washington; Climate Impacts Group 2007 |
| Preparing for the impacts of climate change in California: Opportunities and Constraints for Adaptation. A Report from the California Climate Change Center Review of barriers that CA planners face in addressing climate change impacts in their work, and what they need to be able to overcome these barriers. |
Amy Lynd Luers and Susanne C. Moser March 2006 |
| The Climate Crisis and the Adaptation Myth Article delivers a dose of realism, pointing out that the assumption that we in the U.S. will successfully adapt to climate change affects is not well-supported by our planning and management mindsets and methods to date. Included here because it provides a clear articulation of common obstacles to adaptation and review of why adaptation is not happening already. |
Robert Repetto Fall 2008 |
| Engaging Communities and Decision-Makers | |
| Cities Preparing for Climate Change: A Study of 6 Urban Regions PDF, 682KB Section 3.1 of this report on urban and regional adaptation planning efforts has an excellent review of community engagement and awareness-building approaches taken by the 6 cities, as well as the effectiveness of these approaches. |
Clean Air Partnership May 2007 |
| Climate Witness Community Toolkit Toolkit describes participatory methodologies to document local impacts of climate change and to devise appropriate adaptation measures that local communities can implement themselves. These techniques were developed for use in Pacific South West communities, so some of them are clearly not applicable in the SF Bay Area. BUT, keep an open mind and consider how some of these methods (or modified versions of them) might be unique yet effective community engagement tools for climate change adaptation in Bay Area communities. |
WWF April 2009 |
| Community Engagement Weblinks DOC, 638KB Compiled list of community engagement weblinks to background information, case studies and service providers. This resource was compiled by Pete Peterson, Executive Director of Common Sense California, a non-profit (non-partisan) organization with the state mission to "engage the citizens of this state in the policy decisions that affect our everyday lives." |
Pete Peterson September 2009 |
| Public Listening Sessions: Sea Level Rise and Population Growth in North Carolina Summary eport of a series of public listening sessions held in NC to help the public learn about sea level rise and population growth in the Albermarle-Pamlico region and give participants opportunities to share their concerns about potential impacts of these issues. |
The Albermale-Pamlico Conservation and Communities Collaborative, and the Albermarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program February 2009 |
| Example Adaptation Plans | |
| Ahead of the Storm: Preparing Toronto for Climate Change -- Highlight Very nice presentation of the City of Toronto's mitigation and adaptation strategies. Especially effective illustration of how the city's mitigation and adaptation actions overlap on page 3. |
Toronto Environment Office April 2008 |
| Berkeley Climate Action Plan: Chapter 6 Adapting to a Changing Climate With the stated goal of making "Berkeley resilient to the impacts of climate change" the plan identifies policies and implementation actions for achieving this goal. The implementation actions are primarily ones that can be implemented without further analysis of climate change vulnerabilities, and are extensions of existing sustainable practices. |
Berkeley Climate Action. Adopted by the Berkeley City Council June 2009 |
| City of Homer Climate Action Plan Has Adaptation section (begins page 37) with a very well-written introduction that clearly and concisely lays out the reasons why adaptation (in addition to mitigation) is essential for Homer and, in general, the climate change-related impacts and issues that the city needs to address. Recommendations are aimed at creating a resilient local economy, protecting existing infrastructure, being prepared for extreme weather events and wildfires, and adopting wise policies for future development. |
December 2007 |
| City of San Rafael Climate Action Plan. The chapter “Our Environment” includes recommendations for adapting to sea level rise, increasing local crop production, participating in the Marin regional vulnerability assessment, and creating a local vulnerability assessment. |
April 2009 |
| Climate Plan Comprehensive, well-organized adaptation section with clear and proactive adaptation strategies and initiatives. Pages 99-138. |
King County 2007 |
| Second Report and Initial Recommendations Recommendations from the Counties various Climate Change Advisory Task Forces for Built Environment, Natural Systems, and Economic, Social and Health Adaptations (starting page 9). Each recommendation is supported with the Task Force's rationale. Due to the large size of M-D County, many of the recommendations are more appropriate for implementation at a regional (as opposed to local) level. |
Miami-Dade County Climate Change Advisory Task Force. Presented to the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners April 2009 |
| Somerset County, Maryland: Rising Sea Level Guidance Example of a county-level assessment of sea level rise vulnerabilities, and recommendations that address suggested modifications to the County’s planning and regulatory mechanisms, including the Floodplain Management Ordinance/Building Code, Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations, Comprehensive Plan, and Hazard Mitigation Plan. |
RS & RCQuinn Consulting Inc September 2008 |
| Science and Impacts | |
| California Climate Risk and Response Research paper from UC Berkeley, Dept of Agricultural and Resource Economics takes a look at costs of climate impacts and responses by sector. The Real Estate section (starts page 73) provides interesting (and eye-opening) comparisons and dollar values. |
Fredrich Kahrl and David Roland-Holst November 2008 |
| Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Sciences Another good primer document/brochure to help public to understand Earth's climate, impacts of climate change, and approaches for adapting and mitigating change. Principles in the guide can serve as discussion starters or launching points for scientific inquiry. The guide can also serve educators who teach climate science as part of their science curricula. |
U.S. Global Change Research Program March 2009 |
| Coastal Communities and Climate Change Maintaining Future Insurability Report (~20 pages) looks at how the insurability of homes and businesses might be affected by increases in risk due to climate change -- specifically flooding.This report looks at the impact of climate change on flood risk at a number of coastal locations around the world, considering sea-level rise, the effect of wind speed on storm surges and, at one location, changes in land use. Clearly-written; good descriptions of methodology and terminology; and well-chosen and presented case studies. |
360 Risk Project. Lloyds. September 2008 |
| DRAFT 2009 Climate Action Team Biennial Report to the Governor and Legislature MUST READ: California Climate Action Team’s biennial science assessment report on climate change impacts and adaptation options for California. |
California Climate Action Team July 2009 |
| Impacts of Sea Level Rise on the California Coast Institute's report on vulnerabilities of the CA coast to impacts of sea level rise. Includes cost estimates for replacing lost/damaged infrastructure as well as pro-active measures to protect infrastructure. Report includes separate values/ analysis for SF Bay Area. |
Pacific Institute May 2009 |
| Living With a Rising Bay: Vulnerability and Adaptation in San Francisco Bay and on the Shoreline. Draft Staff Report Draft report describes the current state of knowledge regarding the potential impacts of sea level rise on the region. It identifies vulnerabilities in the Bay Area’s economic and environmental systems, as well as the potential impacts of sea level rise on public health and safety. |
San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) April 2009 |
| Preparing for Climate Change: A Perspective from Local Public Health Officers in California Article presents the results of a survey of California’s local pubic health officers conducted between August and October 2007. The survey gauged health officers’ concerns about the public health impacts of climate change, programs in place that could help to mitigate these health effects, and information and resource needs for better coping with a changing climate. Background information includes overviews of public health-related impacts of climate change in CA. |
Louise Bedworth Environmental Health Perspectivies, Vol 117, No 4 April 2009 |
| The Climate Gap Report "analyzes data on the disparate impacts of climate change and climate change mitigation policies on low socioeconomic status (SES) groups in the United States that is relevant to the California context." Includes recommendations for addressing the gap issues identified in the report. |
University of Southern California. The Program for Environmental and Regional Equity (PERE) May 2009 |
| Understanding and Responding to Climate Change Brochure that provides a primer on climate change science. It highlights findings and recommendations from the National Academies’ reports on climate change. |
The National Academies 2009 |
| State and Regional Adaptation Planning Efforts | |
| 2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategy: Discussion Draft MUST REVIEW: Addresses climate change impacts, risks and adaptation strategies for six different sectors in CA: Public Health, Biodiversity and Habitat, Ocean and Coastal Resources, Water Management, Agriculture, Forestry, and Transportation and Energy Infrastructure. Note that in the "Preliminary Recommendations" (starts page 7), recommendations 3-5 and 9 are specifically applicable to local planning agencies. |
CA Natural Resources Agency July 2009 |
| A Sea Level Rise Strategy for the San Francisco Bay Region Thought piece that outlines the need for a new Bay Plan and a strategy for developing the plan. |
Bay Conservation and Development Commission September 2008 |
| A Summary of the Coastal Commission’s Involvement in Climate Change and Global Warming Issues for a Briefing to the Coastal Commission An update of Coastal Commission activities on climate change. |
California Coastal Commission Dec 2008 |
| Bay Area Adaptation Assistance for Local Governments DOC, 49KB An overview of the Adaptation Assistance Program that BCDC, ABAG and other partners are developing to build local-level capacity to address climate change impacts and issues. COMMENTS ON THIS DOCUMENT ARE WELCOMED. PLEASE SEND THEM TO sarap@bcdc.ca.gov |
Bay Conservation and Development Commission September 2009 |
| Bay Area Regional Agency Climate Protection Program Adopted Joint Policy Committee action on climate change (adopted August 2007). JPC consists of 4 regional agencies: Association of Bay Area Governments, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Bay Conservation and Development Commission,and Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Document describes goals and strategies of the JPC Joint Action on the Regional Climate Protection Program, and the roles of the different regional agencies in implementing the program. |
Joint Policy Committee August 2007 |
| California Coastal CommissionClimate Change and Research Considerations PDF, 57KB Summary by the Coastal Commission of research needs identified for California's coast. |
CA Coastal Commission September 2008 |
| CEQA Guidelines. Sections proposed to be added or amended Proposed amendments to the CEQA Guidelines to address climate change -- mitigation only. |
The Governor's Office of Planning and Research April 2009 |
| Climate change research needs for the San Francisco Bay coastal sector On September 24, 2008, BCDC hosted a research forum for regional experts in policy, planning, science, and engineering. The forum focused on research for identifying vulnerability to, projecting future impacts from, and developing effective adaptation strategies for Bay area climate change. The discussion groups focused on: physical processes of the Bay and habitat conservation, shoreline development, and social science, legal and policy issues. The research ideas generated from the forum and through ongoing partnerships with Bay area agencies, governments, and research institutions are summarized in this document. |
Will Travis and Adam Parris October 2008 |
| The Future is Now: An Update on Climate Change Science Impacts and Response Options for California MUST READ Chapter 5. Sums up for CA (as of May 2009) adaptation needs and adaptation-related science for CA underway. Particularly informative is Table 2, page 68 that provides comparison of Hazards-based approach vs. Vulnerability-based approach to adaptation planning. |
Susan Moser, Guido Franco, Sarah Pittiglio, Wendy Chou, Dan Cayan May 2009 |
| Tools, Data Sources, and Adaptation Actions | |
| Abstract of Stream Setbacks and the Law Review of case law pertaining to stream setbacks and buffers used as a planning tool. |
Ellison Folk, Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP Jan 2005 |
| Adapting to Climate Change Impacts: A Good-Practice Guide for Sustainable Communities Guidance and ideas for integrating adaptation into sustainable development (Section 2.3, beginning page 18), and examples of adaptation actions/plans in the case studies reports (Part 4, starts page 43). |
London Climate Change Partnership October 2006 |
| Adapting to climate change: A case study companion to the checklist for development An impressive compilation of case studies of adaptation actions ranging from use of climate resilient building materials to designating and designing "sacrificial" lands to prevent flooding of key infrastructure and residential areas. |
London Climate Change Partnership March 2007 |
| CEQA and Low Impact Development Stormwater Design: Preserving Stormwater Quality and Stream Integrity Through California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Review Technical guidance on using low impact development (LID) in stormwater design for CEQA mitigation. |
The Governor's Office of Planning and Research August 2009 |
| Climate Change, the California Environmental Quality Act, and General Plan Updates:Straightforward Answers to Some Frequently Asked Questions Helpful guidance for local jurisdictions on the Attorney General's positions on CEQA review requirements for General Plan updates. Almost all of the FAQs concern GHG mitigation, except for the last question (page 6) which asks if local governments must analyze impacts of future climate change on development in the GP. Bottom line answer: yes. No guidance on how to do this, though. |
California Attorney General’s Office September 2009 |
| Example Climate Change Adaptation Planning Resolution Example language for an adaptation planning resolution. (Very similar to what Marin County adopted in its General Plan in 2007.) |
Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly |
| Goals Project. 1999. Baylands Ecosystem Habitat Goals. Prepared by the San Francisco Bay Area Wetlands Ecosystem Goals Project A report of baylands habitat recommendations that includes information on existing stressors on wetlands habitats and species that may help local planners assess vulnerabilities of shoreline habitat to climate change impacts. Additionally, Chapter 6 on restoration provides practical information on costs, design, and management of wetlands restoration projects that may be relevant to projects that employ habitat buffers for protection against shoreline flooding. |
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, San Francisco, Calif./S.F. Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, Oakland, Calif. 1999 |
| Low Impact Development (LID): A Sensible Approach to Land Development and Stormwater Management Overview of low impact development (LID) techniques for stormwater management in residential areas. Looks at benefits and challenges of LID, and ways to address challenges. |
California Water and Land Use Partnership, California Coastal Commission |
| Marin Countywide Plan MUST REVIEW: Great example GP policy language for adaptation in GOAL AIR-5 and its corresponding policies (starts page 2-105). |
Marin County Community Development Agency November 2007 |
| Rising Seas, Coastal Erosion, and the Takings Clause: How to Save Wetlands and Beaches without Hurting Property Owners Legal analysis that examines "land use planning options by which coastal states might retain some of their public trust tidelands in perpetuity no matter how much the sea rises at least in areas that have not yet been developed. A key assumption of this analysis is that policies should protect coastal property values. " Great review (from legal perspective) of various policy tools available to land us planners and how they play out with rising sea level. |
James G. Titus Maryland Law Review, V57, No 24 1998 |
| Safer from the Start: A Guide to Firewise-Friendly Development Guidance on minimizing fire risk to new residential development near the wildland/urban interface. |
National Fire Protection Association 2009 |
| San Francisco Stormwater Design Guidelines Draft report of design guidelines provides thorough review of low impact development (LID) principles integration into stormwater design guidelines in the urban watershed. Excellent illustrations and numerous examples of how the design guidelines are put into practice. (Note that SF is by no means the first to use LID in stormwater design. However, of the documents on the topic, this is a nice example of a design guidance document.) |
City of San Francisco February 2009 |
| Sustainability and General Plans: Examples of Policies to Address Climate Change Resources and examples policies from a variety of sources on addressing climate change by incorporating sustainability into General Plan updates. Compiled by the CA Attorney General's office. |
California Attorney General’s Office September 2009 |
| Synthesis of Adaptation Options for Coastal Areas This Synthesis provides a brief introduction to key physical impacts of climate change on estuaries and a review of on-the-ground adaptation options available to coastal managers to reduce their systems' vulnerability to climate change impacts. For each option, the synthesis describes what climate stressor and additional management goals are addressed, benefits and constraints of the option, and examples of specific locations where the option has been implemented (where available). |
US EPA, Climate Ready Estuaries Program January 2009 |
| Why Climate Change Makes Riparian Restoration More Important than Ever: Recommendations for Practice and Research Article outlines benefits of riparian restoration for ecological adaptation. "Riparian ecosystems are naturally resilient, provide linear habitat connectivity, link aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and create thermal refugia for wildlife: all characteristics that can contribute to ecological adaptation to climate change." |
N E Seavy, et al Ecological Restoration. 27:3 September 2009 |