Cal Cities’ advocacy informs upcoming sea level rise science guidance

By Melissa Sparks-Kranz, legislative affairs lobbyist (environmental quality)

The importance of local climate change adaptation policy and practices along California’s coast took center stage in recommendations Cal Cities and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) sent this month to the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) as part of the public process to update the state’s draft sea level rise guidance.

OPC advances science-based policies and actions through partnerships to protect California’s coast. The state agency last published the best-available sea level rise guidance in 2018. The 2024 draft guidance updates sea level rise projections through 2150. State, tribal, local, and entities can use the report for coastal adaptation projects, resilience planning, and funding investments.

The Cal Cities Coastal Cities Group engaged with OPC during the public comment period and provided written comments. Cal Cities and CSAC — representing 61 cities and 19 counties along the coast — urged the agency to better recognize local planning and adaptation efforts as integral to addressing sea level rise.  

Cal Cities and CSAC also highlighted several technical concerns. The various sea level rise scenarios are helpful for anticipating climate change. However, the guidance is also deeply uncertain about the projected scenarios and what the climate could be 100 years from now. Cal Cities advocated for clarifications that allow local governments to distinguish how and when to use the projected scenarios for risk assessment, planning, design, and implementation efforts.  

Local agencies will take this science and incorporate it into their plans for future infrastructure and housing along the coast. Agency staff anticipates presenting the final guidance to OPC for review and adoption at its  June 4, 2024 meeting.