Published Date:
State Issues Progress Report on Climate Adaptation Strategy Showing Three-Quarters of Actions In Progress or Completed
Actions Seek to Protect Vulnerable Communities, Environment and Economy
SACRAMENTO — The Newsom Administration today issued a progress report on actions over the past year to build climate resilience across California. Guided by the state’s Climate Adaptation Strategy, California is leading the way with comprehensive and innovative actions to adjust to changes and protect the most vulnerable communities from accelerating climate threats.
The report released today shows nearly three-quarters of the Strategy’s 350+ metrics across nearly 150 actions are well underway, ongoing, or completed, with the remaining metrics in the early stages of scoping or beginning project work. See the progress here.
“Climate change is happening all around us. In just the last year, California experienced a record heat wave and communities suffering from years of drought are now facing historic flooding,” Governor Gavin Newsom said. “We are acting now with an all-of-the-above approach to help all Californians prepare and adapt. California’s Climate Adaptation Strategy recognizes that extreme weather and other climate impacts threaten communities in every part of our state and accelerates actions to protect the most vulnerable. While we have made great progress over the last year, the climate crisis demands we move further and faster to reduce risks to our people.”
Reducing climate risks and building long-term resilience are top priorities for the Newsom Administration. Millions of Californians continue to feel the destructive effects of climate change. In the past year alone, the state experienced severe drought, a record-shattering heatwave and devastating floods driven by extreme weather.
California is taking historic action to reduce these risks. Major investments are beginning to pay off, including those focused on increasing water resilience and protecting Californians from catastrophic wildfire.
Through the nearly 150 actions outlined in the Climate Adaptation Strategy, state agencies are coordinating across all sectors to reduce climate risks while emphasizing six priorities:
- Strengthen Protections for Climate Vulnerable Communities
- Bolster Public Health and Safety to Protect Against Increasing Climate Risks
- Build a Climate Resilient Economy
- Accelerate Nature-Based Climate Solutions and Strengthen Climate Resilience of Natural Systems
- Make Decisions Based on the Best Available Climate Science
- Partner and Collaborate to Leverage Resources
Progress in each area is being measured through specific metrics, which were included in the Strategy for the first time in 2021. Updates on all the Strategy’s metrics are tracked at https://www.climateresilience.ca.gov/.
“California is actively reducing climate threats to communities and natural places with the support of historic investments from the Governor and Legislature,” California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot said. “The choices we make today matter. California is on the right path, but the climate crisis demands that we pick up the pace. This Administration is committed to moving further, faster.”
The Strategy connects climate work across agencies and sectors to meet fast-moving threats now and in the future. This work includes reducing threats from wildfires, droughts, flooding, extreme heat and sea-level rise.
“Until recently, these efforts were separate and siloed by sector. Now, they are coordinated and guided by overarching, holistic priorities,” Office of Planning and Research Director Samual Assefa said. “This alignment helps protect communities threatened by multiple climate impacts and makes it clear to the public that we have a comprehensive plan to protect people and nature.”
California is statutorily required to issue a statewide climate adaptation strategy every three years and to provide annual updates on implementation progress. In 2021, the Newsom Administration updated the adaptation strategy in a new way that set foundational priorities to drive all sectoral resilience efforts. The updated Strategy includes metrics and an online website to ensure transparency and accountability.
The next Strategy update is due July 2024, and a draft is expected to be released for public comment in January.
