sea level rise

Stinson Beach is launching a multi-year effort to create a sea level rise adaptation plan, as reported by the Marin Independent Journal. The plan would determine how and when the community, which is the most threatened on the Marin ocean coastline, can protect itself against sea levels that could rise by up to 10 feet by the end of the century. The plan would be completed in 2024 and include a list of potential projects and funding options.

A recent article by NBC Bay Area highlights how the Covid-19 pandemic, and the ensuing fiscal crisis, has resulted in a number of critical climate adaptation projects and initiatives being delayed or put on hold as local, regional and state government budgets are squeezed. The article highlights a number of projects and policies to cope with climate impacts that have been delayed due to Covid-19, including a $4.7 billion climate resilience bond proposed by the Governor's office that was shelved.

A new article in the Los Angeles Times describes the effects that sea level rise is having on California coastal communities. Sea level rise of greater than 9 feet could occur by the end of this century, in comparison with less than 9 inches in the last 100 years.

In an article published today, the Washington Post presented an analysis of temperature data across the Lower 48 states, finding that major areas are nearing or have already crossed the critical 2 degree Celsius threshold of temperature increase.

An article published in the San Francisco Chronicle today underscores the urgent need for action to address sea level rise on the Bay Area's 400 miles of shoreline, the costs of which could approach $100 billion over time. The article highlights some of the innovative financing and regulatory developments that have occurred to facilitate adaptation actions, with a specific focus on wetland restoration to create buffers against rising seas.

A paper discussing the outcomes of the Resilient by Design Bay Area Challenge was published today in the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank's Community Development Innovation Review. The paper, entitled Drawing a New Roadmap: The Resilient by Design Bay Area Challenge, was authored by Allison Brooks, BARC Executive Director. 

An article published in the Mercury News highlights a controversial proposed development or nearly 500 single-family homes near the edge of the San Francisco Bay in Newark. This article highlights the challenges that the Bay Area faces without regional guidance on development along the shoreline.

An article posted in the New York Times this week highlights the alarming rate of climate-vulnerable development occurring across the country and the measures that cities are taking to combat it, including imposing new rules on developers on building homes in floodplains, providing financial assistance for rebuilding in the wake of a storm, and rejecting proposed developments in floodplains outright.

In December 2019, the California Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) released a new report entitled "Preparing for Rising Seas: How the State Can Help Local Coastal Adaptation Efforts". The report acknowledges that the State has a vested interest in protecting California's coastline, but places most of the responsibility for sea level rise preparation on local governments, as most coastal property is owned either privately or by local governments.

An article in the New York Times highlights the shared threat that both San Francisco and Manila, in the Philippines, face due to rising sea levels, while highlighting the different sets of circumstances and decisions that have amplified the vulnerabilities in each city.