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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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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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Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on the Built Environment under NEPA and State EIA Laws: A Survey of Current Practices and Recommendations for Model Protocols
August 12, 2015
The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law has developed a set of model protocols for assessing the impacts of climate change on the built environment under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and similar state and local laws, including those for environmental impact assessments (EIAs). This paper summarizes the legal and empirical research used for the development of these protocols.
Author or Affiliated User: Jessica Wentz
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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Oregon EO 15-09: Directing State Agencies to Plan for Resiliency to Drought, To Meet the Challenge that a Changing Climate Brings
July 27, 2015
Oregon Governor Brown's 2015 Executive Order on drought and climate change sets a goal to reduce water consumption by 15 percent or more on average across all state-owned facilities on or before December 31, 2020. The EO also directs agencies to update the state's overall planning for drought, including potential new tools to help communities deal with the impacts of water shortages.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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Hawaii HB 444 - An Act Relating to Beach Protection: Transient Accommodations Tax; Special Land and Development Fun; Appropriation”
July 1, 2015
Hawaii HB 444, passed June 16, 2015, authorizes the use of transient accommodations tax revenues for a beach restoration and conservation special fund. The bill was enacted to effectively develop and implement plans to slow the degradation of Hawaii’s beaches; as well as to restore beaches through the coordination of activities involving the counties and the formation of public-private partnerships. The legislation expands the uses of the beach restoration fund to allow the Department of Land and Natural Resources to include studies about the effect of sea level rise when developing beach conservation plans.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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RI H 5478: Creating the Rhode Island House Commission on Economic Risk Due to Flooding and Sea Rise
June 17, 2015
In June 2015, Rhode Island House Resolution 5478 created an 11 member special legislative commission whose purpose was to study and make recommendations concerning the economic risks relating to and resulting from sea rise and flooding in the state. The Commission expired and disbanded on February 6, 2016 after reporting back their findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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HB0514/SB0258 Maryland Commission on Climate Change
June 1, 2015
In May 2015, the Maryland legislature passed legislation (HB0514/SB0258) codifying the Maryland Commission on Climate Change. The Commission is charged with advising the Governor and General Assembly on ways to mitigate the causes of, prepare for, and adapt to the consequences of climate change. The measure requires the Commission to establish specified working groups and for the Commission members and working group members to be appointed and the Commission to be convened on or before July 1, 2016.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
