Resiliency

Adaptation is a core component of a comprehensive response to climate change. Strategy 5 of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) calls for a standalone climate adaptation plan to identify vulnerabilities, take early action, integrate adaptation into CAP efforts, capitalize on co-benefits, and increase local resilience. Climate Resilient SD also implements the CAP’s social equity goals by prioritizing our City’s Communities of Concerns to ensure that investments and resources are prioritized for those with the greatest needs and vulnerabilities.

Mitigation focuses on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to avoid the worst potential impacts of climate change.

Adaptation focuses on reducing impacts from climate change related hazards.

Resilience enhances the ability to bounce back from a disruptive event.

The City has completed multiple vulnerability assessments to evaluate the risk that climate change related hazards, such as sea level rise, extreme heat, wildfires, and precipitation driven flooding, may pose to City’s assets and resources. These vulnerability assessments will help inform the development of Climate Resilient SD by identifying which assets and resources would be the best candidates for implementation of adaptation strategies. Adaptation strategies are actions that will minimize the vulnerability of an asset, resource, or community to a particular climate change hazard. Adaptation strategies can be education and outreach initiatives, new programs or policies, operational updates, or infrastructure projects.

The City is developing a suite of adaptation strategies to minimize vulnerability to climate change hazards and increases the resiliency of San Diego’s people, economy, infrastructure, and natural resources. To develop Climate Resilient SD, the City will be working collaboratively with community members and stakeholders. Upcoming public outreach will seek input on the proposed adaptation strategies and gather feedback on how you envision a resilient San Diego. Together, we can prepare for and thrive in a changing climate while improving social equity, health, safety, and the environment for all.

Citywide Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

The Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment was a key step towards completing Climate Resilient SD. Backed by the best available science and informed by a diverse Stakeholder Advisory Group, the Vulnerability Assessment identified and evaluated which City assets are vulnerable to climate change and the potential consequences that could occur. A high level overview of the findings is presented in the  brochure. Read the  full report.

Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment

The City of San Diego has long recognized the need to address the risks from sea level rise, storm surge, and coastal erosion. To better understand these risks, the City conducted a sea level rise vulnerability assessment with funding from a California Coastal Commission Local Coastal Program Local Assistance Grant. This vulnerability assessment is a technical report that presents key findings from the assessment of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity of critical built, natural, and cultural assets to coastal hazards.

• Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment

State Lands Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment

Pursuant to Assembly Bill No. 691 (AB 691), and as a local trustee of the granted public trust lands, the City completed a state granted lands sea-level rise vulnerability assessment, evaluating the impacts of sea-level rise on its public trust lands and detailing a plan to address vulnerabilities and mitigate impacts. The assessment considers the recommendations under the California Ocean Protection Council’s State Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance and the California Coastal Commission’s Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance to assess impacts of storms and extreme weather events, changing shorelines, trends in relative local sea level, and impacts to public trust resources and values. Through this assessment, the City identified the vulnerabilities of City assets and public trust resources and facilities, considered replacement or repair costs, and assessed the impact to non-market values, such as ecosystem services, for the years 2030, 2050, and 2100. To address these vulnerabilities, the City, with input from local stakeholders, compiled a list of potential adaptation and mitigation measures, organized by climate change hazard. These measures included with estimated costs, associated benefits, and timeframes for implementation.

• State Lands Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment

King Tides, or perigean spring tides, are the higher than normal high tides. These tides can cause coastal flooding and help to demonstrate how sea level rise may affect the coastline in the future. King Tides are natural and predictable, occurring 3-4 times a year when the alignment of the sun and the moon occur during a new or full moon.

To learn more and for information on how to get involved as a citizen scientist and to see photos of the tides along our coastline, check out the California King Tides project.

Climate Resiliency in the San Diego Region

• Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
• Fourth Climate Change Assessment, San Diego Regional Report
• Scripps Institution of Oceanography
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coastal Adaptation Project – Connecting the Dots and Building Coastal Resilience in the San Diego Region
• San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative 
• Sea level rise adaptation strategy for San Diego Bay - 2012

Climate Change and Resiliency in California

• Safeguarding California, the state’s climate change adaptation strategy
• State of California Sea-Level Rise Guidance
• Adaptation Clearing House
• California Adaptation Planning Guide and other resources for regional and local adaptation efforts
• California’s main resource for climate change research, Cal-Adapt
• Alliance of Regional Collaboratives for Climate Adaptation (ARCCA)