California Climate Change Assessment - Environmental Protection - CA Public Resources

Section § 71340

The California Climate Change Assessment is developed by the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation in partnership with several state agencies and consultation with specific public agencies. This assessment is part of efforts to understand and address climate change impacts.

The Office can work with outside experts, such as universities and research institutions, particularly those serving vulnerable communities, to create the assessment. It is required to complete an assessment every five years, and can release findings as they become available. The assessment must consider credible scientific data, financial reports, and other relevant information.

The term "vulnerable communities" is defined by a resource guide from the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program Technical Advisory Council.

(a) The Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, through the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program established pursuant to Part 4.5 (commencing with Section 71350), shall develop the California Climate Change Assessment, in coordination with the Natural Resources Agency, the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, and the Strategic Growth Council, and in consultation with partner public agencies designated by the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. The Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation may also contract with outside entities, including public universities, research institutions, organizations that serve vulnerable communities, and other technical experts to produce the assessment.

(b) The Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation shall complete the assessment no less frequently than every five years, and may release components of the assessment on a rolling basis as they become available.

(c) The Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation shall consider research from independent, scientifically peer-reviewed panels, financial reports, and other relevant and reasonably accessible data.

(d) For purposes of this part, “vulnerable communities” has the same meaning as the definition of “vulnerable communities” adopted by the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program Technical Advisory Council in the most up-to-date “Defining Vulnerable Communities in the Context of Climate Adaptation” resource guide published by the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation.

California Climate Change Assessment Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program Natural Resources Agency State Energy Resources Conservation Strategic Growth Council public universities research institutions vulnerable communities scientifically peer-reviewed research financial reports climate adaptation resource guide Technical Advisory Council climate impacts

(Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 20, Sec. 40. (AB 137) Effective June 30, 2025.)

Section § 71341

The California Climate Change Assessment is designed to understand the impacts and risks of climate change across the state. It uses the best science available and suggests solutions to help lawmakers. Data includes future climate projections for different areas and reports on how climate change affects the environment, economy, and vulnerable communities.

It looks at how systems like infrastructure and natural environments are affected and offers ways to adapt or respond to these changes. There are also region-specific reports to help local areas plan better for these challenges.

Statewide reports cover issues like environmental justice and the unique needs of tribal communities. Tools are provided to help decision-makers apply this data practically, especially for assessing costs and benefits of various adaptation measures, alongside best practices for meeting climate and emission goals.

The California Climate Change Assessment shall provide an integrated suite of products that report the impacts and risks of climate change, based on the best available science, and identify potential solutions to inform legislative policy. These products shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(a) Downscaled climate projections that assess climate change impacts throughout the state, including at regional and local levels, for near-term, medium-term, and long-term timescales, and under varied emissions scenarios, as appropriate and supported by the availability of the data, as determined by the Office of Planning and Research.

(b) A set of research reports that examine, but need not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) How climate change will affect built systems, natural systems, and social systems, including the welfare of vulnerable communities, and the potential fiscal and economic impacts of these effects in California.

(2) Identification of potential climate adaptation and mitigation responses, including their costs and benefits.

(c) Regionally specific reports that can inform regional and local vulnerability assessments, adaptation planning, and community resilience efforts.

(d) Reports on issues of statewide significance, including, but not limited to, environmental justice considerations, impacts on the systems identified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), and the unique risks posed to, and research and monitoring approaches used by, tribal communities.

(e) Decision-support tools for planners, decisionmakers, and others, including organizations that serve vulnerable communities, that allow for actionable application of assessment research findings. To the extent data is available, this shall include guidance regarding assessment of the financial and economic costs and benefits of adaptation decisions.

(f) Examples of best practices for planning for future climate conditions and approaches to building adaptation and resilience, while also meeting established greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.

climate change impacts California Climate Change Assessment downscaled climate projections vulnerable communities regional climate reports climate adaptation responses environmental justice tribal communities decision-support tools economic impacts of climate change climate resilience planning greenhouse gas reduction goals social systems natural systems adaptation planning

(Added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 136, Sec. 1. (SB 1320) Effective January 1, 2021.)

Section § 71342

The Office of Planning and Research in California must work with regional and local governments, tribes, vulnerable communities, businesses, and the public to define the scope of an assessment. Once complete, the assessment results will be available on a state website in an accessible format. Additionally, the assessment must be shared with the Department of Finance and relevant regional actors to evaluate financial impacts and include specific projections and tools. Notably, the process of developing this assessment is exempt from certain government procedural rules.

(a) The Office of Planning and Research shall engage with regional and local governments, tribes, vulnerable communities, businesses, and members of the public, as necessary, in determining the scope of the assessment.

(b) All final assessment products shall be posted on or accessible through a state internet website in an accessible format.

(c) Upon completion of the assessment, the Office of Planning and Research shall make accessible to the Department of Finance for purposes of assessing liabilities in the state budget, and to regional and local governments, tribes, and vulnerable communities, the contents and application of the assessment, including the downscaled projections specified in subdivision (a) of Section 71341 and the decision-support tools specified in subdivision (e) of Section 71341.

(d) Development of the assessment shall not be subject to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

Office of Planning and Research regional governments local governments tribes vulnerable communities business engagement public engagement assessment scope state internet website accessible format Department of Finance state budget liabilities downscaled projections decision-support tools government procedural exemption

(Added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 136, Sec. 1. (SB 1320) Effective January 1, 2021.)

Section § 71343

This law states that the implementation of certain provisions depends on the Legislature providing necessary funds. The Office of Planning and Research is allowed to accept money from public or nonprofit sources, but spending that money also requires legislative approval.

(a) The implementation of this part is contingent upon an appropriation of funds by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute for purposes of this part.

(b)

(1) The Office of Planning and Research may receive and accept gifts, donations, contributions, or bequests of money from public, nonprofit, or philanthropic sources for purposes of this part.

(2) The expenditure of all moneys received for purposes of this part shall be subject to an appropriation by the Legislature.

funding appropriation Office of Planning and Research gifts and donations Legislature approval philanthropic sources public contributions money expenditure annual Budget Act nonprofit sources implementation funding bequests acceptance budget legislation

(Added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 136, Sec. 1. (SB 1320) Effective January 1, 2021.)