July 2018

SoCalGas Supports Local Adaptation Work

SoCalGas, the major natural gas provider for Southern and Central California, is proud to enhance climate resilience work in the state. The company is actively involved to promote climate adaptation within their organization as well as in local communities. SoCalGas just received its pool of applicants for a shareholder-funded grant the company recently released aimed…

From Resilience to Regeneration: How Not to Give up Hope

Last year’s California Adaptation Forum was one of the first events I attended in my new role as the Coordinator of the Resilient Communities Initiative (RCI). Since I was new to the scene, I spent my first CAF listening, networking, and learning from the adaptation and equity professionals who would be my colleagues going forward.…

Three Ways to Grow Cleantech – Case Study Los Angeles

Clean technologies and product redesigns can prepare our communities and cities to be more resilient and protect against the impacts of climate change. Whether it’s more complex and high-tech solutions, such as the development of microgrids and battery storage systems for storms, or seemingly simple solutions such as using lighter color material to reduce the…

Towards a More Data/Technology-Driven Future for Climate Adaptation and Resiliency

Introduction The field of climate adaptation and resiliency has been developing in leaps and bounds over the past decade supported by serious research and the development of new and novel applications.  Like most new technical areas, the efforts have been defined by fits and starts, with various methods identified, tested, refined and then either carried…

Innovations in Nature-Based Sea Level Rise Adaptation

A Sense of Urgency Nature-based sea level rise adaptation is now urgent work. While California may have years before dramatic impacts are felt from rising waters, the planning, piloting, and testing of coastal resilience projects must be happening now, especially if we want to incorporate natural ecosystems. We need to dramatically accelerate the timeframes for…

Moving from Awareness to Action using Technology and Visualization

Modern humans appeared on the Earth about 200,000 years ago. We like to think we’ve evolved past our Homo Sapiens ancestors, but when it comes to our climate risk, let’s face it: we still have lizard-brains. Communities have had access to data and observational evidence of climate change for a while now. The data keeps…

Beat the Heat with Cool Surfaces

Cool surfaces can be an effective technology in addressing our warming climate. Urban heat islands — the result of dark, heat-absorbing surfaces like asphalt streets and dark-hued roofing material — can add anywhere from 6 to 12 degrees Fahrenheit of additional heat to a city. One solution lies in cool surface technology. Cool surfaces, specifically…

Finding Your Path to Adaptation

The San Francisco Water and the Deltares team discuss the development of adaptive pathways, July 2018 (Credit: Robert Kay), Clockwise from Top Left: Kathryn Roscoe (Deltares), Alexis Dufour (SF Public Utilities Commission), Marjolijn Haasnoot (Deltares), David Behar (SF Public Utilities Commission) How do you find the right path for your climate change adaptation journey?  Then,…

Prepping Homes for California’s “New Normal”

In recent years, many California communities have seen devastating wildfires – some of the worst natural disasters in our state’s history. What’s more, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) now notes that they are now responding to wildfires year-round. The effects of global warming, including higher temperatures and dangerously dry vegetation…