Executive order from Governor Schwarzenegger on Climat Impacts

Text of News Release issued November 14, 2008:


Gov. Schwarzenegger Issues Executive Order Directing State Agencies to Plan for Sea Level Rise and Climate Impacts

Given the serious threat of sea level rise to California's water supply and coastal resources and the impact it would have on our state's economy, population, and natural resources, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger [Friday] issued an Executive Order (EO) S-13-08 to enhance the state's management of climate impacts from sea level rise, increased temperatures, shifting precipitation and extreme weather events.

"We have to adapt the way we work and plan in order to manage the impacts and challenges that California and our entire planet face from climate change," Governor Schwarzenegger said. "Given the serious threat of sea level rise to California's water supply, population and our economy, it's critically important that we make sure the state is prepared when heavy rains cause flooding and the potential for sea level rise increases in future years."

There are four key actions in the EO including:

(1) initiate California's first statewide climate change adaptation strategy that will assess the state's expected climate change impacts, identify where California is most vulnerable and recommend climate adaptation policies by early 2009;

(2) request the National Academy of Science establish an expert panel to report on sea level rise impacts in California to inform state planning and development efforts;

(3) issue interim guidance to state agencies for how to plan for sea level rise in designated coastal and floodplain areas for new projects; and

(4) initiate a report on critical existing and planned infrastructure projects vulnerable to sea level rise.

One key benefit that the EO will facilitate is California's first comprehensive climate adaptation strategy. This effort will improve coordination within state government and adapt the way work so that better planning can more effectively address climate impacts to human health, the environment, the state's water supply and the economy.

Another benefit from the EO includes providing consistency and clarity to state agencies on how to address sea level rise in current planning efforts, reducing time and resources unnecessarily spent on developing different policies using different scientific information.

The EO and its actions carry on the Governor's environmental leadership by continuing to address climate change adaptation in coordination with our climate change mitigation policies as outlined in AB 32. The states of Washington and Oregon, as well as Canada and Mexico, along with several global institutions have expressed interest in coordinating our climate change adaptation policies as outlined in this EO.

California's Energy Commission, the California Ocean Protection Council and Caltrans are conducting numerous scientific studies on the impact of climate change, including new sea level rise impact projections that are being used to develop the state's climate change adaptation strategy.