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California SB 246 - Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program
October 8, 2015
SB 246 established an Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program for California as of January 1, 2017. The program will coordinate regional and local efforts with state climate adaptation strategies to adapt to the impacts of climate change. There is to be an emphasis on climate equity considerations across sectors and regions and strategies that benefit both greenhouse gas emissions reductions and adaptation efforts, in order to facilitate the development of holistic, complementary strategies for adapting to climate change impacts.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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SB 379 Fact Sheet: Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Strategies
The Alliance of Regional Collaboratives for Climate Adaptation (ARCCA) released this fact sheet to explain the basic requirements of SB 379 for California communities. SB 379 will require cities and counties within California to integrate climate adaptation into their general plans by January 1, 2017 or January 1, 2022 depending on whether or not that city or county has adopted a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. The fact sheet also describes a 3-step process cities and counties can use to meet the requirements.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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California AB 1482: Climate adaptation strategy
October 8, 2015
AB 1482 requires the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), in coordination with the Strategic Growth Council, to oversee and coordinate state agency actions to adapt to climate change. The bill requires CNRA to update the state’s climate adaptation strategy (Safeguarding California), by July 1, 2017, and every three years thereafter. As part of the update, the CNRA will coordinate with other state agencies to identify the agency or agencies to lead adaptation efforts in each sector. The updates to the plan are to include climate change vulnerabilities by sector and the priority actions needed to reduce risks, for at least the following sectors: Water Energy Transportation Public health Agriculture Emergency services Forestry Biodiversity and habitat Ocean and coastal resources To address the vulnerabilities as identified in the updated plan, state agencies are directed to fulfill the objectives of: Educating the public about the consequences of climate change, such as sea-level rise, extreme weather events, the urban heat island effect, habitat loss, wildfire, drought, threats to infrastructure and agriculture, worsening air and water quality, and public health impacts.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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Incorporating Natural Infrastructure and Ecosystem Services in Federal Decision-Making (Memorandum for Executive Departments and Agencies)
October 7, 2015
President Obama released new policy guidance directing Federal agencies to begin incorporating ecosystem services in Federal planning and decision-making. The memorandum directs agencies to develop and institutionalize policies that promote consideration of ecosystem services, where appropriate and practicable, in planning, investment, and regulatory contexts. It also establishes a process for the Federal government to develop a more detailed guidance on integrating ecosystem-service assessments into relevant programs and projects to help maintain ecosystem and community resilience, sustainable use of natural resources, and the recreational value of the Nation’s unique landscapes.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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Florida Sea Grant's "Environmentally Compromised Roads" Model Ordinance
October 2015
The “Environmentally Compromised Road Segments” model ordinance provides a framework for local governments in Florida to recognize and proactively address two related challenges: changing environmental conditions that cause natural degradation of public roads and rising maintenance costs. The ordinance does so by creating exceptions to both levels of service and uniform design standards for “environmentally compromised road segments. ” Such road segments must meet certain maintenance cost thresholds and be within areas where typical repair activities and standards are infeasible due to naturally-occurring environmental conditions.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Restoration and Relocation Efforts
October 2015
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, located at the southern tip of Assateague Island, depends on parking and road facilities that are vulnerable to flooding and erosion. Refuge managers have been exploring alternatives for responding to these impacts that they anticipate will worsen with sea-level rise and climate change. The refuge is studying alternatives to relocate parking facilities and is using oyster reefs to protect transportation facilities. Parking facilities on the island are made of loose shells and sand so as not to disrupt the natural terrain.
Resource Category: Solutions
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Missouri Comprehensive State Energy Plan
October 2015
In October 2015, officials within the Missouri Department of Economic Development and the Division of Energy released the Comprehensive State Energy Plan, which outlined recommendations that would help the state transition to cleaner, more affordable, and more reliable energy. As a result of numerous public meetings and significant stakeholder participation, the agencies were able to divide their recommendations into five categories that would help Missouri achieve its energy goals: promoting efficiency of use; ensuring affordability; diversifying and promoting security in supply; undertaking regulatory improvements; and stimulating innovation, emerging technologies, and job creation. Compliance with these statewide recommendations will help to create new jobs, expand the economy, facilitate more efficient use of energy in all sectors, and help households more effectively manage their energy budgets – all in a more equitable manner. The Plan is a living document that serves as a resource for all elected officials, communities, businesses, and even individuals. In local, frontline communities especially, it is intended to serve as the basis for developing community-specific plans that not only emphasize its energy resources, but the priorities of the area.
Resource Category: Planning
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Florida Sea-level Rise Sketch Planning Tool for Transportation
October 2015
The University of Florida (UF) developed a geographic information system (GIS)-based “sketch planning tool” to help transportation planners in Florida identify transportation infrastructure potentially vulnerable to projected sea-level rise. The sketch planning tool offers a mapping function to visualize areas that will be affected by different sea-level rise scenarios based upon surface elevations and the location of infrastructure. The tool is also customizable for experienced users to allow them to create more spatially refined inundation surfaces.
Resource Category: Data and tools
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Buffalo, New York, Green Code Unified Development Ordinance, Article 7.3.4 Best Management Practice
October 2015
The City of Buffalo, New York’s Unified Development Ordinance now includes a Green Code that requires use of green infrastructure best management practices (BMPs) wherever practical to achieve the Code’s performance-based stormwater retention standards. The ordinance, at Article 7. 3. 4 of Section 7 on Stormwater, specifies infiltration on-site using bioswales, rain gardens, and other strategies; or stormwater capture and reuse through cisterns, green roofs, and other strategies. The ordinance clarifies the order of preference for stormwater management facilities utilizing BMPs, prioritizing conservation of natural areas before on-site infiltration practices, and on-site infiltration practices before capture and reuse practices.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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City of Alexandria, Virginia Floodplain Management Plan
2015
In 2012, the City of Alexandria, Virginia (by Council Resolution No. 2496) adopted the Northern Virginia Hazard Mitigation Plan Update and received credit under the federal Community Rating System (CRS) program to reduce flood risk and lower insurance premiums in its community. CRS is a voluntary program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the National Flood Insurance Program that allows participating local governments to earn discounts on their residents’ flood insurance premiums by implementing different flood mitigation actions.
Resource Category: Planning
