Climate Adaptation and Sea Level Rise

Research funded in part by the OPC has shown that a 55-inch sea-level rise with a 100-year storm event along the California coast places approximately 480,000 people (given today’s population) and nearly $100 billion in property (in year 2000 dollars) at risk.  An executive order signed by the governor in 2008 directed state agencies to develop a climate adaptation strategy and consider a range of sea-level rise scenarios for the years 2050 and 2100 in order to assess project vulnerability and reduce expected risks, and increase resiliency to sea-level rise.



 

OPC Sea level Rise Resolution Unanimously Adopted

On March 11, 2011, the OPC unanimously adopted a resolution on sea-level rise, after a draft resolution was considered by OPC in November 2010 and comments were received during a 45-day public comment period.   This resolution builds on the work by the Coastal and Ocean Working Group for the Climate Action Team, which developed a guidance document on sea-level rise in October 2010.

Watch the archived video of the webcast for the OPC meeting  (03/11/2011) recorded by CAL-SPAN.

Related OPC Documents/Staff Recommendations
Aproved Sea Level Rise Resolution (adopted March, 2011)
OPC Staff Memo re: Revised Resolution of the Ocean Protection Council on Sea Level Rise (March 2011)
California Sea-Level Rise Interim Guidance Document (October 2010)
OPC Climate Change Resolution (June 2007)

Additional Documents and Links to California Climate Adaptation Efforts
California Climate Adaptation Strategy (Dec 2009)
California Coastal and Ocean Climate Action Team Working Group (CO-CAT)

Additional Resources on Climate Change Impacts to Ocean and Coasts
Pacific Institute Report and Maps on Sea-Level Rise
New Sea Level Rise Adaptation Guide Available (March 2012)