The Coastal and Ocean Resources Working Group for the Climate Action Team (CO-CAT)
The Coastal and Ocean Resources Working Group for the Climate Action Team (CO-CAT) is a working group comprised of senior level staff from California state agencies with ocean and coastal resource management responsibilities. CO-CAT’s task is to ensure the state’s ability to adapt to climate change impacts on ocean and coastal resources while supporting implementation of global warming emission reduction programs.
The CO-CAT is a forum for state agencies to share information and coordinate on actions, including to implement the ocean and coastal resources chapter of the 2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategy.
CO-CAT also develops guidance on sea-level rise. In July of 2010, CO-CAT created a Sea-Level Rise Task Force and worked with the OPC’s Science Advisory Team and Ocean Science Trust to develop a Sea-Level Rise Interim Guidance Document. The Sea-Level Rise Task Force includes staff from the following state entities, which reached agreement on the recommendations in the guidance document in October 2010:
1. Business, Transportation and Housing Agency,
2. Coastal Commission,
3. Department of Fish and Game,
4. Department of Parks and Recreation,
5. Department of Public Health,
6. Department of Toxic Substances Control,
7. Department of Transportation,
8. Department of Water Resources,
9. Environmental Protection Agency,
10. Governor’s Office of Planning and Research,
11. Natural Resources Agency,
12. Ocean Protection Council,
13. San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission,
14. State Coastal Conservancy,
15. State Lands Commission, and
16. State Water Resources Control Board.
Based on the Sea-Level Rise Resolution that the OPC adopted on March 11, 2011, the OPC will provide ongoing coordination with the OPC Science Advisory Team and the CO-CAT to support regular updates to guidance on sea-level rise based upon current scientific understanding and projections. It is expected that the next update to the guidance document will take place in early 2012.
Links:
CO-CAT Members
State of California Climate Change Portal
CO-CAT Near Term Implementation Plan
