Climate Change & Coastal Access
Coastal Erosion/Sandy Beach Loss
Applicant Guidance in Reducing Carbon Output
The California Coastal Commission offers a 40% discount on permit application fees for green building projects. Learn the details!
COLUMN 3
Global Warming and Climate Change
Human activity is contributing to global climate change, which will have increasingly significant
impacts on California and its coastal environments and communities. On this page you'll find
information useful for coastal development applicants, local governments, and the general
public. This website will be updated on an ongoing basis; please email
coast4u@coastal.ca.gov with your comments, questions,
or suggestions.
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Boy Chasing Ball, Asilomar
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Recent News:
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Why is the Coastal Commission concerned about Climate Change?
Human activity is contributing to global climate change, which will have increasingly significant impacts on California and its coastal environments and communities. The Coastal Act mandates the California Coastal Commission to “protect, conserve, restore, and enhance” the state’s coastal resources. As a result, the Commission must consider climate change, including global warming and potential sea level rise, through its planning, regulatory, and educational activities, and work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the detrimental impacts of global warming on our coast.
More information on the Commission’s legal authorities to address climate change...
Related Coastal Commission Presentations and Documents
A workshop on sea level rise was presented at the April 2009 meeting of the California Coastal Commission. Presentations were made by Philip Williams and Associates and the Pacific Institute:
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California Coastal Erosion Response to Sea Level Rise, analysis
and mapping by Philip Williams & Associates Environmental Hydrology
[See the presentation slides.] -
Impacts of Sea Level Rise on the California Coast,
Pacific Institute
[See the presentation slides.]
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"The Guardian," Pacific Grove
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At the December 2008 California Coastal Commission meeting, a briefing was presented on the Commission's involvement in climate change and global warming issues. In December 2006, the California Coastal Commission held its first Global Warming Workshop. View the following documents from the meeting:
- Discussion Draft
- Legislation and Public Policy (presentation by California Assembly Member Fran Pavley)
- Global Climate Change and the Ocean (presentation by James Barry)
- Assisting California's Coastal Communities in Adapting to the Impacts of Global Warming (presentation by Susanne C. Moser)
What are the potential issues and impacts related to global warming and climate change along the California Coast?
Please see the links below for more information on the following subjects and their importance to the discussion of climate change in California.
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Waves at Mori Point, Pacifica
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- Storms and Flooding
- Coastal Erosion and Loss of Sandy Beaches
- Coastal Habitats
- Marine Ecosystems
- Transportation Choices and Planning
- Land Use Planning Decisions
- Shoreline Access
What is being done now in California to address potential impacts of climate change?
California Statewide Efforts:
The State of California is a leader when it comes to preparing for impacts from climate change. Some recent statewide efforts include:
Sunset, Nick's Cove, Tomales Bay
Photo © Kirke Wrench
- National Academy of Sciences West Coast Sea Level Rise Report (June 2012): The State of California contracted with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct an assessment of sea level rise in California for the years 2030, 2050, and 2100. The report provides updated regional sea level rise projections for 2030, 2050, and 2100 based on the best available global sea level rise science and local conditions that influence sea level. According to the report, sea level in California could rise, on average, 6 inches by 2030, 11 inches by 2050, and 3 feet by 2100.
- Governor's Impacts and Adaptation Local Government Conference (April 2012): The Governor's Office of Policy and Management hosted a conference for local governments on climate change impacts, current local government actions, and resources available to help local governments prepare for impacts. Visit the website for conference materials and proceedings.
- Governor's Climate Change Conference on Extreme Climate Risks and California's Future (December 2011): Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and environmental, business and public health and safety leaders came together to discuss ways to prepare and protect California from threats of unpredictable and extreme weather events.
- Cal-Adapt (2011): California Natural Resources Agency and California Energy Commission released an interactive website that allows users to visualize climate change impacts at the local level, download climate change data, and participate in community sharing.
- State of California Sea Level Rise Interim Guidance Document (2010): The Guidance Document provides a recommended approach for state agencies to address sea level rise in planning and decision making. Sixteen state agencies, including the California Coastal Commission, worked together to develop the approach.
- State Adaptation Strategy (2009): In 2009, the State of California adopted the Adaptation Strategy, which was a collaborative effort across state agencies and relevant stakeholders. The Strategy summarizes climate change impacts and adaptation strategies across seven sectors: Public Health, Biodiversity and Habitat, Oceans and Coastal Resources, Water, Agriculture, Forestry, and Transportation and Energy.
California Climate Change Legislation:
The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32) establishes a ground-breaking, comprehensive program of regulatory and market mechanisms to achieve quantifiable, cost-effective reductions of greenhouse gases. The act makes the Air Resources Board responsible for monitoring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For information on AB 32, download a factsheet and visit these sites for more information:
In 2008, the California legislation passed SB 375, Addressing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Transportation Sector via Regional Transportation Plans. Find out more about SB 375.
- Air Resources Board's Climate Change page.
- Visit the California Climate Change Portal.
- Access the The Climate Registry.
California Coastal Commission Efforts to Address Climate ChangeThe California Coastal Commission is assisting the Resources Agency to accomplish the goals of AB 32. In its day-to-day work, the Commission looks at coastal development projects on a case-by-case basis in an effort to reduce emissions and prepare for potential impacts. A special task force of Commission staff meets regularly to investigate and discuss climate change issues and planning related to topics including green building, local governments and local coastal programs (LCPs), smart growth, public education and information, interagency coordination, adaptation to climate change impacts, carbon footprint scoring systems, carbon offsets, cap and trade, and carbon sequestration.
The Coastal Commission has implemented a new fee structure for Coastal Development Permits that provides for fee reductions for "green building." Find out more about this opportunity to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of your development.
Local Government Efforts:Local governments have the opportunity to take aggressive action to reduce global warming.
Some examples of local government actions and resources include:
Wetlands, Point Reyes National Seashore
Photo © Mark A. Warmerdam
- United States Conference of Mayors Climate Change Protection Center and Strategies and Best Practices Guide
- Cool Cities Program
- Local Governments for Sustainability's Cities for Climate Protection Campaign
- Institute for Local Government, Climate Change Program
- Public Policy Institute of California report, Climate Policy at the Local Level: A Survey of California’s Cities and Counties
- The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research has compiled a list of Cities and Counties Addressing Climate Change
- American Planning Association’s Planners Energy and Climate Database
Other State and Federal Efforts:
The Coastal Commission is one of three state agencies that administer the federally-approved California Coastal Management Program (CCMP), the others being the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission and the California State Coastal Conservancy. The CCMP incorporates many of the Coastal Commission’s authorities under the California Coastal Act, including responsibility for comprehensive management of coastal resources, using planning, permitting, enforcement, and non-regulatory mechanisms and relying on cooperation between federal, state, and local agencies. As one of 34 federally-approved coastal management programs, the California Coastal Commission is a member of the Coastal States Organization and a participant on various CSO subcommittees, including the CSO Climate Change Work Group, which has compiled a report about the challenges coastal managers face in adapting to the impacts of climate change. Read the Final Report of the CSO Climate Change Work Group.
What should I do?
Individuals:
There are many things that individuals can do to reduce their contribution to global warming. A few websites which have compiled specific tips on how to help include the following. (These links have not necessarily been endorsed by the Coastal Commission. Visit our How can I learn more section for links to additional organizations.)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
A multitude of CARBON CALCULATORS are available, which allow you to estimate the amount of greenhouse gas your household or business produces, giving you a starting point to work on reducing your impact. The Coastal Commission has not endorsed a specific calculator, but examples of online carbon calculators of various levels of detail and complexity, are available at CoolCalifornia, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and The Nature Conservancy. More links can be found at the Home Energy Saver Library - David Suzuki Foundation
- Ecology Center
- The Coastal Commission's Coastal Stewardship Pledge is an extensive list of specific actions individuals can take to care for our coast and ocean. Nearly all of these tips will also help to reduce your carbon emissions.
Permit Applicants:
The Coastal Commission is developing specific guidelines for dealing with potential climate change impacts for Coastal Development Applicants. As information becomes available, it will be posted here. In the mean time, you are encouraged to make every effort to Reduce Your Project's Contribution to Global Warming with regard to aspects including whole project energy use, water use, vehicle miles traveled, and paved area. In particular, consider taking advantage of the Coastal Commission's new fee reductions for "green building." Find out more about this opportunity to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of your development.
Local Governments:As specific climate change guidance for local governments in the coastal zone becomes available, it will be referenced here. In the mean time, please visit our Resources for Local Governments website, the Issues and Impacts section of this webpage, and the following sites:
Surfer, Huntington Beach Pier
Photo © Jim Kresge
- California Air Resources Board, Local Government Actions for Climate Change
- California Attorney General's Office Mitigation Measures and Global Warming Resources for local agencies
- Governor's Office of Planning and Research CEQA and Climate Change
- Climate Impacts Group's Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional, and State Governments
- U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Climate Action Handbook
- Bay Area Air Quality Management District Climate Protection Program
- Pew Center on Global Climate Change, Adaptation Planning – What U.S. States and Localities are Doing
- California Air Pollution Control Officers Association CEQA and Climate Change White Paper
- The National Academies Conversation on America's Climate Choices
- U.S. EPA web page, Climate Change - State and Local Governments
- U.S. EPA document, Programs, Tools & Resources to Assist Local Governments
- Local Governments for Sustainability’s Outreach and Communications Guide for communicating climate information
- Adapting to Coastal Climate Change: A Guidebook for Development Planners from US Agency for International Development, University of Rhode Island's Coastal Resources Center, and International Resources Group
How can I learn more about global warming and climate change?
There are many websites devoted to climate change. Below are a few links where you can learn more. This is not a comprehensive list, and these sites have not necessarily been endorsed by the California Coastal Commission.
- California Climate Change Portal
- California Attorney General, Climate Change and Public Health
- Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary: Understanding Ocean Acidification
- European Commission, Environment
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Global Climate Change
- National Climatic Data Center, Global Warming FAQ
- NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, Climate Change
- NOAA Climate Program Office
- NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory Carbon Program
- San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission Climate Change Planning Project
- United Nations Environment Programme climate change site
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Climate Change Site
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Sea Level Rise
- U.S. Global Change Research Program
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Starfish and Hydrocorals, Santa Catalina Island
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Non-Government Sources:The California Coastal Commission has not necessarily endorsed these sites.
- Californians for Clean Energy and Jobs Network
- David Suzuki Foundation, Climate Change Impacts and Solutions
- Environmental Defense, Fight Global Warming
- Natural Resources Defense Council, Global Warming
- Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
- RealClimate: Climate Science from Climate Scientists
- Sierra Club, Clean Energy Solutions
- StopGlobalWarming.org
- Union of Concerned Scientists Global Warming Program
- Union of Concerned Scientists: California Climate Choices
Sites aimed at teachers, parents, and students:
The California Coastal Commission has not necessarily endorsed these sites.
- American Association for the Advancement of Science, Climate-Change Town Hall
- California Climate Change Educational Resources Directory
- Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary: Understanding Ocean Acidification
- Climate Kids, NASA's Eyes on the Earth
- Discovery Channel, Global Warming: What You Need to Know
- Envisioning Climate Change Using a Global Climate Model, Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
- Global Education Project
- PBS's NOW Program's high school level lessons on Global Warming
- Protect Your Climate, for 4th-5th grades, Bay Area Air Quality Management District
- US EPA Climate Change Kids Site
- NOAA Ocean Service Education Climate Resources