Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments in California

The links below provide information on the collection of vulnerability assessments that have, or are currently taking place in California. These projects span a variety of sectors, and range in geographic extent from cityscapes to statewide projects, and projects that assess a small area within California as part of a larger-scale effort. This list also contains different types of vulnerability assessments including both qualitative vulnerability assessments and quantitative assessments that employ specific vulnerability indices. Topic areas listed below are not intended to be mutually exclusive.

Species/Habitat Assessments

• Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment of California’s At-risk Birds
• Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for Rare Plants in California (PDF)
• Vulnerability Analysis and Monitoring Program for Detecting Changes in San Francisco Bay Tidal Marsh Bird Populations Resulting from Climate Change
• Assessing Climate Change Vulnerability and Developing a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for Sierra Nevada Birds (PDF)
• Creating a Soil Vulnerability Index to Identify Drought Sensitive Areas (PDF)
• Landscape-scale Indicators of Biodiversity’s Vulnerability to Climate Change (PDF)

Coastal

• Assessing the Relative Coastal Vulnerability of National Park Units to Sea Level Rise
  • Coastal Vulnerability Assessment of Point Reyes National Seashore to Sea-Level Rise
  • Coastal Vulnerability Assessment of Golden Gate National Recreation Area to Sea-Level Rise
  • Coastal Vulnerability Assessment of Channel Islands National Park to Sea-Level Rise
• Predicting the Vulnerability of Nearshore Species and Habitats to Climate Change Effects (PDF)
• Ocean and Coastal Resources Working Group (CO-CAT) State-wide Vulnerability Assessment (PDF)
• San Francisco Estuary Project: Climate Ready Estuaries Pilot Project
• Adapting to Rising Tides Project (includes vulnerability assessment component)

Water/Human Health/Transportation

• Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments: Four Case Studies of Water Utility Practices
  • Includes a case study for the East Bay Municipal Utility District (Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, CA)
• Public Health Impacts of Climate Change in California: Community Vulnerability Assessments and Adaptation Strategies (PDF)
• Vulnerability of Transportation Systems to Sea Level Rise (Preliminary Assessment) (PDF)

Local

• City of Santa Cruz City Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
• Proposed Process for the Preliminary Vulnerability Assessment for San Mateo’s Climate Change Adaptation Planning (PDF)
• Developing Adaptation Strategies for San Louis Obispo County: Preliminary Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for Social Systems (PDF)