California Resilience Challenge
Calling all Californians to Prepare for Our Future
Leading the world in climate resilience
Climate change is pushing California’s already volatile climate towards greater extremes. The California Resilience Challenge is a statewide effort, led by businesses, with support from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, and a diverse array of environmental and community leaders, to develop a pipeline of climate adaptation projects across the state to strengthen local and regional resilience to heat, drought, floods, and wildfire. Since 2020, the California Resilience Challenge has provided $6 million to 38 communities across California to support early stage climate adaptation planning.
Climate change is causing California’s already volatile climate to produce increasingly extreme droughts, floods, heatwaves, and wildfires.
Fire
Five of the six largest wildfires in state history burned simultaneously in 2021 as wildfires burned a record 4 million acres.
Drought
California is once again in a drought emergency, and state officials estimate the Sierra snow pack, the source for over one-third of California’s water, will shrink up to 65 percent by 2100.
Flood
Sea levels are projected to rise between 7-23 inches by 2050, and more extreme storms will cause inland flooding.
Heat
August 2020 was the hottest month in state history and saw the hottest temperature ever recorded on the surface of the earth, threatening vulnerable populations.
If you are interested in keeping up with the California Resilience Challenge, you can sign up here, and we’ll stay in touch:
More Information & Updates
2020 Grant Program Final Report
Read the California Resilience Challenge Final Report. DOWNLOAD >
California Resilience Challenge Backstory [Video]
Watch this short documentary about how we formed to support early-stage climate adaptation planning in under-resourced communities across California. WATCH >
California Resilience Challenge - Chief Ya'anna Learning Village [Video]
Watch this short documentary about efforts to educate youths with tribal ecological knowledge in Southern California. WATCH >
California Resilience Challenge - Compton and Watts [Video]
Watch this short documentary on efforts to establish a community resilience center at the Watts-Willowbrook Church of Christ in Southern California to protect residents against wildfire smoke and extreme heat events. WATCH >
California Resilience Challenge - Fairmead [Video]
Watch this short documentary on the water supply challenges faced by residents of Fairmead, California. WATCH >
California Resilience Challenge - Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program [Video]
Watch this short documentary about how former California inmates are finding new careers in forestry, firefighting, and fire prevention. WATCH >
California Resilience Challenge - Greenbelt Alliance [Video]
Watch this short documentary about how communities in Sonoma County are working to develop a wildfire-protective Greenbelt around residents and structures in the urban-wildland interface. WATCH >
California Resilience Challenge - Student Conservation Association [Video]
Watch this short documentary about young residents of Alameda County California learning how to manage vegetation to reduce wildfire risks and promote healthy rivers and streams. WATCH >
BlackRock-CRC Uneven Impact Report
Read more about the disproportionate effect of severe climate events on low-income counties in California. LEARN MORE >
2020 Grant Program Final Report
Read the California Resilience Challenge Final Report. DOWNLOAD >
California Resilience Challenge Backstory [Video]
Watch this short documentary about how we formed to support early-stage climate adaptation planning in under-resourced communities across California. WATCH >
California Resilience Challenge - Chief Ya'anna Learning Village [Video]
Watch this short documentary about efforts to educate youths with tribal ecological knowledge in Southern California. WATCH >
California Resilience Challenge - Compton and Watts [Video]
Watch this short documentary on efforts to establish a community resilience center at the Watts-Willowbrook Church of Christ in Southern California to protect residents against wildfire smoke and extreme heat events. WATCH >
California Resilience Challenge - Fairmead [Video]
Watch this short documentary on the water supply challenges faced by residents of Fairmead, California. WATCH >
California Resilience Challenge - Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program [Video]
Watch this short documentary about how former California inmates are finding new careers in forestry, firefighting, and fire prevention. WATCH >
California Resilience Challenge - Greenbelt Alliance [Video]
Watch this short documentary about how communities in Sonoma County are working to develop a wildfire-protective Greenbelt around residents and structures in the urban-wildland interface. WATCH >
California Resilience Challenge - Student Conservation Association [Video]
Watch this short documentary about young residents of Alameda County California learning how to manage vegetation to reduce wildfire risks and promote healthy rivers and streams. WATCH >
BlackRock-CRC Uneven Impact Report
Read more about the disproportionate effect of severe climate events on low-income counties in California. LEARN MORE >If you are interested in contributing to the California Resilience Challenge Fund, please email resilience(at)bayareacouncil.org.
Flood footage provided by Kevin Lowe