Climate Change Resources:

State Web-based Guidance for Local Governments

Climate Change Portal (State Portal)
Portal to State Guidance and Resources (significant update in progress)
Legislation, Scientific Studies and Background Information

Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) (CEQA, CAP and GP Guidance)
Climate Action Plan Technical Advisory (currently in development)
CEQA Guidelines
General Plan Guidelines
Policy and Mitigation Guidance (currently in development)

Cal-Adapt (Vulnerability and Adaptation)
Climate Change Impacts and Resiliency Planning
Resources for Emergency Management
Scenario Planning Tools
Successful Case Study Examples

Cool California (GHG Emissions Reductions/Funding Wizard)
Tools to prepare Local Government Operations Protocol (LGOP) Compliant GHG inventories (currently in development)
GHG Reduction Decision Support Tool (currently in development)
Links to State Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC) CAP Tool
Funding Opportunities via the State Funding Wizard
Successful Case Study Examples

Additional Resources

• California Attorney General's Office compiled resources and examples of Sustainability and General Plans to assist cities and counties in addressing climate change in their general plan updates.
• The Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) provides guidance on issues specific to housing elements and climate change, including the document, Housing Element Policies and Programs Addressing Climate Change.
• In June 2009, the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association released a guidance document, Model Policies for Greenhouse Gases in General Plans. The document includes a discussion of general plan structure, a menu of model policy language, and a worksheet to assist cities and counties in evaluating the effectiveness and cost of potential measures.
• The California Department of Transportation issued “Smart Mobility 2010: A Call to Action for the New Decade,” in February 2010. The document sets out the agency's concept for a "Smart Mobility Framework" that integrates transportation and land use decision making. The Framework "emphasizes travel choices, healthy, livable communities, reliable travel times for people and freight, and safety for all users." Smart Mobility 2010 describes sustainable transportation strategies that should be considered for implementation at every level of government, including in general plans and regional transportation plans.
• The California Energy Commission's Energy Aware Planning Guide, issued in March 2011, is a comprehensive resource for local governments seeking to reduce energy use, improve energy efficiency and increase usage of renewable energy. The Guide includes recommended strategies related to land use, transportation, buildings, water use, and community energy.
• The Funding Wizard, located at www.coolcalifornia.org provides existing and new funding sources available to cities and counties to assist in programmatic planning to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Additional resources and links will be added as they become available. Please check back often for updates.

If there is a resource you would recommend for inclusion on this page, contact OPR.