Challenges and Opportunities for California’s Resilience Funding Landscape
October 2024
Changing climate conditions, including drought, extreme heat, sea-level rise, and wildfire, pose significant risks to California’s population and economy. Adaptation and resilience efforts are critical to prepare for and respond to these changes. Although realizing the State’s vision for a resilient California requires significant investment, the costs of inaction are far greater. Understanding the imperative for climate action, California has established a comprehensive framework for climate adaptation and resilience. This initiative is shaped by the California Climate Adaptation Strategy, the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resilience Program (ICARP) in the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI), along with various sectoral and investment programs. Collectively, these initiatives reinforce California’s commitment to advancing community-driven, multi-benefit resilience efforts.
In early 2024, CLEE published evaluations of two State grant programs, the Adaptation Planning Grant Program (APGP) and the Regional Resilience Planning and Implementation Grant Program (RRGP), concluding that both made strong additions to the State’s funding portfolio. However, the 2024 State Budget reverted funds for future rounds of both, suggesting a need to review the State’s resilience funding landscape and explore strategies to build on the successes of APGP and RRGP.
CLEE’s new report, Bridging the Implementation Gap: Challenges and Opportunities for California’s Resilience Funding Landscape, finds that State adaptation funding in California is characterized by an oversubscribed, unstable, and complex funding landscape, limiting the State’s ability to advance and implement equitable adaptation efforts. While nuanced, these challenges suggest an opportunity for the State to refine its approach to funding climate adaptation and resilience.
The report outlines recommendations for State Grant Program Administrators and State Policymakers on improving the funding landscape.
- Opportunity for State Grant Program Administrators: Maximize the Resilience Outcomes of Existing Funding Programs.
Priority recommendations for State grant administrators include elevating and facilitating plan alignment and advancing local governance in adaptation strategies to achieve more equitable resilience outcomes.
- Opportunity for State Policymakers: Make Adaptation and Resilience Funding More Accessible.
Priority recommendations for the California Legislature and Governor’s Office include institutionalizing support to navigate State funding opportunities and aligning State funding with Federal, private, and nonprofit funding sources to encourage balanced funding portfolios.
- Opportunity for State Policymakers: Sustain and Maintain Predictable Funding for Adaptation and Resilience.
A priority recommendation for the California Legislature and Governor’s Office is to develop a comprehensive funding and investment strategy that aligns with the priorities of the State’s Climate Adaptation Strategy through sustained funding for adaptation and resilience.
California’s capacity to respond to climate risks relies on a robust, well-funded, accessible adaptation strategy. CLEE’s report outlines significant challenges in the existing funding framework and provides actionable recommendations for improving and optimizing State adaptation funding. By tackling these issues, California can strengthen its ability to support equitable, community-focused resilience efforts and ensure a more climate-resilient future for all.
Access the full report here: Bridging the Implementation Gap: Challenges and Opportunities for California’s Resilience Funding Landscape
Contact Hanna Payne, Kasia Dahlbeck, Shruti Sarode, or Louise Bedsworth for more information.