Tracey Weiss, Our Ocean Backyard | Santa Cruz County climate strategies make progress
There have recently been days when so much is happening in the world that it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the influx of quickly changing information and the potential effects on our communities. Many people living in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary region have already been impacted by federal funding shifts for organizations that help support the agencies, programs and research that protect the bay and surrounding areas.
What will these proposed cuts mean for the health of our National Marine Sanctuaries? Only time will tell. We know that agencies like the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration and other federal programs have helped the Monterey Bay region become a world leader in developing climate resilience education and adaptation. Science tells us that our environment is changing, and many communities across the country face stark new realities in accessing resources and information to prepare appropriately for the intensifying impacts of climate change. Santa Cruz County is among a growing list of communities working on strategies for mitigation and adaptation to deal with the increase in year-round challenges from a changing climate.
Santa Cruz County adopted the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan in 2022 to establish resources, make long-term plans and implement systems that support collaborative efforts across agencies, including nonprofits, county, city and unincorporated regional governments. This collaborative planning and preparation ensures that local communities can unite to prevent, prepare and respond to climate-related impacts for people experiencing economic inequities. Among the key community safety and environmental resilience priorities the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan identified is the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, update planning and provide resources for challenges such as extreme heat, wildfires, landslides, river and stormwater flooding, sea level rise and intrusion, air-quality challenges and drought.
Preparation, education and mitigation are investments that can help prevent expensive disasters while putting systems in place for responding to weather-related challenges. The county Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience, which manages the implementation of action and adaptation programs, shared the progress made during 2024 with the community and local leaders at the County Commission on the Environment meeting held Jan. 29. Reporting reflects definitive strides are being made toward becoming a more climate-resilient Santa Cruz County. Notable “key achievements” from the 2024 plan include improvements in the targeted areas of electrification and energy, waste reduction, sustainable transportation, climate adaptation and hazard resilience, sea level rise and continued improvements to integrate climate preparedness into disaster planning. While ongoing work is needed, much of the information from the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan meeting in January is good news. If you want to learn more, please get in touch with your local county supervisor for additional information.
Another example of local improvements is “GO Santa Cruz County,” the ride-sharing incentive program offered through the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, which includes an online commute management tool available for all who live or work in Santa Cruz County as part of the commission’s ongoing effort to reduce drive-alone trips and greenhouse gas emissions. The county also has ongoing plans for carbon sequestration strategies, public transportation improvements, wildfire preparedness and more.
How can you help build more climate-resilient communities? The Monterey Bay area is fortunate to have many excellent local resources, including Resilient Santa Cruz County and the county’s Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience. Each of these organizations provides resources on their website. You can access information on rebates and incentives, simple home improvements to reduce your carbon footprints, organizing and getting involved in larger-scale community projects, long-term county and state programs, as well as neighborhood planning tools for flooding, mudslides and fires. Connecting with other community members is essential to plan and prepare to share information and find ways to support each other.
I encourage everyone to celebrate local small and large-scale accomplishments as we develop strategies for addressing the new potential resource changes. Let’s take the time to familiarize ourselves with the regional programs and nonprofits committed to educating, researching and providing climate resilience resources for our communities. There are many ways for each of us to get involved in the climate resilience solution! Making progress is contingent on sustaining regional government programs and nonprofits working in partnership to meet this critical moment. Together, we can preserve natural resources and protect the health of our ocean backyard.
Tracey Weiss is the executive director of the O’Neill Sea Odyssey. She is working to support the residents of Santa Cruz County with the information that allows them to connect, impact and understand the ocean ecosystem and the regional environment we call home. She can be reached at osoexecdirector@oneillseaodyssey.org.