Part 4.4 - California Climate Change Assessment

California Public Resources Code — §§ 71340-71343

Sections (4)

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 20, Sec. 40. (AB 137) Effective June 30, 2025.

(a)The Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, through the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program established pursuant to Part 4.5 (commencing with Section 71350), shall develop the California Climate Change Assessment, in coordination with the Natural Resources Agency, the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, and the Strategic Growth Council, and in consultation with partner public agencies designated by the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. The Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation may also contract with outside entities, including public universities, research institutions, organizations that serve vulnerable communities, and other technical experts to produce the assessment.

(b)The Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation shall complete the assessment no less frequently than every five years, and may release components of the assessment on a rolling basis as they become available.

(c)The Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation shall consider research from independent, scientifically peer-reviewed panels, financial reports, and other relevant and reasonably accessible data.

(d)For purposes of this part, “vulnerable communities” has the same meaning as the definition of “vulnerable communities” adopted by the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program Technical Advisory Council in the most up-to-date “Defining Vulnerable Communities in the Context of Climate Adaptation” resource guide published by the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation.

§ 71341

Added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 136, Sec. 1. (SB 1320) Effective January 1, 2021.

The California Climate Change Assessment shall provide an integrated suite of products that report the impacts and risks of climate change, based on the best available science, and identify potential solutions to inform legislative policy. These products shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(a)Downscaled climate projections that assess climate change impacts throughout the state, including at regional and local levels, for near-term, medium-term, and long-term timescales, and under varied

emissions scenarios, as appropriate and supported by the availability of the data, as determined by the Office of Planning and Research.

(b)A set of research reports that examine, but need not be limited to, all of the following:

(1)How climate change will affect built systems, natural systems, and social systems, including the welfare of vulnerable communities, and the potential

fiscal and economic impacts of these effects in California.

(2)Identification of potential climate adaptation and mitigation responses, including their costs and benefits.

(c)Regionally specific reports that can inform regional and local vulnerability

assessments, adaptation planning, and community resilience efforts.

(d)Reports on issues of statewide significance, including, but not limited to, environmental justice considerations, impacts on the systems identified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), and the unique risks posed to, and research and monitoring approaches used by, tribal communities.

(e)Decision-support tools for

planners, decisionmakers, and others, including organizations that serve vulnerable communities,

that allow for actionable application of assessment research findings. To the extent data is available, this shall include guidance regarding assessment of the financial and economic costs and benefits of adaptation decisions.

(f)Examples of best practices for planning for future climate conditions and approaches to building adaptation and resilience, while also meeting established greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.

§ 71342

Added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 136, Sec. 1. (SB 1320) Effective January 1, 2021.

(a)The Office of Planning and Research shall engage with regional and local governments, tribes, vulnerable communities, businesses, and members of the public, as necessary, in determining the scope of the assessment.

(b)All

final assessment products shall be posted on or accessible through a state internet website in an accessible format.

(c)Upon completion of the assessment, the Office of Planning and Research shall make accessible to the Department of Finance for purposes of assessing liabilities in the state budget, and to regional and local governments, tribes, and vulnerable communities, the contents and application of the assessment, including the downscaled projections specified in subdivision (a) of

Section

71341 and the decision-support tools specified in subdivision (e) of Section 71341.

(d)Development of the assessment shall not be subject to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

§ 71343

Added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 136, Sec. 1. (SB 1320) Effective January 1, 2021.

(a)The implementation of this part is contingent upon an appropriation of funds by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute for purposes of this part.

(b)(1) The Office of Planning and Research may

receive and accept gifts, donations, contributions, or bequests of money from public, nonprofit, or philanthropic sources for purposes of this part.

(2)The expenditure of all moneys received for purposes of this part shall be subject to an appropriation by the Legislature.