Climate Adaptation and Sea Level Rise

The State of California anticipates that relative sea level rise projections stemming from GHG emissions and related climate change pose significant economic, environmental and social risks to communities along the San Francisco Bay Shoreline, including the City of Palo Alto. Sea level rise in San Francisco Bay is anticipated to range between three feet to more than ten feet by 2100 with rising tides likely thereafter. In Palo Alto, many City services and infrastructure that are essential to the City’s public health, safety, and economy are located within areas that are predicted to be inundated by Bay water if adaptation measures are not implemented.

Preparation for and protection from wildfires is another important aspect of Palo Alto's climate adaptation planning. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency, intensity, and duration of wildfire events, especially here in California. On the West Coast, it is projected that an average 1 °C temperature increase could increase the median burned area per year as much as 600 percent in some forests.

The Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) guides Palo Alto's sustainability and emissions reduction strategy. The goals and key actions for Climate Adaptation and Sea Level Rise focuses primarily on sea level rise and secondly on wildfire protection. Because climate adaptation planning requires a forward-thinking approach, our climate adaptation goals include planning for seal level rise and minimizing wildland fire hazards. In addition to the adaptation areas addressed in the S/CAP, the City also pursues many climate protection and adaptation strategies, including addressing extreme weather and natural disasters such as floods.