New Resources for Responding to Coastal Climate Change in California
Coastal Climate Change Featured at the California Adaptation Forum (August 19th-20th)
Breakout session details are now available for the CA Adaptation Forum and coastal climate change sessions are offered in every time slot. The CA Adaptation Forum is being organized by the Local Government Commission and the State of California and will be in Sacramento on August 19-20th. Come connect with other people to share insights on how we can most effectively respond. For more information and to register, see http://www.californiaadaptationforum.org/
Free Workshop on Sea-level Rise and Shoreline Change Planning Tools (August 18th)
A free workshop “Lifting the Fog: Understanding Sea Level Rise and Shoreline Change Planning Tools” is being offered before the CA Adaptation Forum, on August 18th in Sacramento. Intended for planners, managers, consultants, decision-makers, and other users of sea-level rise tools, this special session will consist of two parts: (1) an interactive tool café with stations for tool exploration with developers, and (2) a panel session for direct interaction between model and tool developers with decision-makers and end-users, including a discussion of communication strategies around sea-level rise decision-support tools. This workshop is sponsored by the NOAA Coastal Services Center, and will feature tools teams, including NOAA’s SLR Viewer, Our Coast Our Future, The Nature Conservancy’s Coastal Resilience tool, Climate Central’s Surging Seas, and Cal-Adapt. http://www.californiaadaptationforum.org/program/tours
4th Climate Assessment Public Meetings
The State of California will be holding three public workshops in August to discuss a proposed scope of work for the 4th California Climate Assessment. The 4th California Climate Assessment will develop original, regionally-relevant climate research to support California’s continued leadership on actions to address climate change and safeguard our state’s people, economy and resources. The Public Workshop in Sacramento will be webcast for those unable to attend in person. A copy of the Proposed Scope of Work, directions on how to submit comments, and webcast information will be posted in advance of the workshops on the California Natural Resources Agency web page: http://resources.ca.gov/climate/fourth.html
Any questions may be directed to JR DeLaRosa, Special Assistant for Climate, at: Raul.DeLaRosa@Resources.ca.gov or 916-653-6333. Dates and locations for the meetings are:
Date: Friday, August 8, 2014, 10am – noon
Location: California Energy Commission – Hearing Room A
1516 9th Street, Sacramento, CA
Date: Tues, August 12, 2014, 10am – noon
Location: Junipero Serra Office Building – Carmel Room
320 West Fourth Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Date: Wed, August 13, 2014, 11am – 1pm
Location: Milton Marks Conference Center
455 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA
CivicSpark Climate Readiness Teams for Capacity-building for Local Governments in CA
The Local Government Commission, in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, are launching CivicSpark. This new Governor’s Initiative of AmeriCorps will place “Climate Readiness teams” in each of nine regional hubs where they will provide capacity-building support to local governments through research, planning and project implementation activities. CivicSpark is currently looking for Local Governments who want to take action, but need support. Visit their website www.civicsparkca.org to learn more.
Kresge Foundation Initiative for Climate-Resilience for Low-income People
Kresge Environment Program expects to award as many as 20 planning grants leading toward activity to improve the resilience of low-income, urban communities in the face of climate change. http://kresge.org/news/initiative-will-fund-climate-resilience-efforts-reflect-needs-interests-low-income-people-0
State Coastal Conservancy Climate Ready Grant Program
The California State Coastal Conservancy announces the availability of funding for three specific types of projects through its Climate Ready program. Grant applications are due August 22, 2014. This second round of Climate Ready grants is intended to encourage local governments and non-governmental organizations to act now to prepare for a changing climate by the implementation of on-the-ground multiple-benefit actions that provide public benefits while lessening the impacts of climate change on California’s coastal communities and natural resources. A total of $1,500,000 is available for awards through this competitive grant program. http://scc.ca.gov/2014/05/27/second-climate-ready-grant-round-announced/
Local Technical Assistance Grants for Climate Change Impacts to Economic Development
The U.S. Department of Commerce – Economic Development Administration has funding available through a Local Technical Assistance program, which strengthens the capacity of local or State organizations and institutions to undertake and promote effective economic development programs. This could be done through projects such as feasibility studies, impact analyses, mapping studies, disaster resiliency plans, strategic plan development, etc. Applicants can be local agencies, state agencies, non-profits, institutes of higher education, economic development districts or tribes. Examples of projects can be creating a strategic plan for meeting the needs of communities and industries that may be affected by climate change issues and challenges. Another example may be a study on flooding and storm surge impacts on the coastal economy; or a climate change displacement of people and jobs; or a study focusing on the response to climate change that can advance local economics, etc. There is no hard deadline, however for FY 14 funding consideration applications are reviewed as they are received. Projects will be funded until funding is expended. Projects not funded in FY14 can be considered in FY15 depending on the new budget and funding availability. Funding requests are flexible and are typically from $20,000 to $100,000 per project. For more information, contact Frances Sakaguchi at fsakaguchi@eda.gov. Under www.grants.gov, click on the search grants tab and enter 11.302 into CFDA number field.