UNITED NATIONS SOUNDS ALARM ON CLIMATE CRISIS AS CEC RELEASES ACTION PLAN ON CLIMATE RESILIENCE FOR SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

First-Ever Plan Outlines Current Action Happening on California’s Coast to Build Climate Resilience–Plan Grounded in Deep Community Work

March 9, 2022 (SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) – Building on over fifty years of proven environmental leadership, today the Community Environmental Council (CEC) released the first-ever action plan for climate resilience in Santa Barbara County, with the intention for that action to grow and deepen across the Central California Coast.

The release of the action plan coincides with the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report published last week that delivered its strongest warning yet: climate disruptions are accelerating at a dangerous pace, and humanity’s window for a livable future is rapidly closing. CEC’s action plan, Achieving Climate Resilience on the California Central Coast, is a timely response to the IPCC’s call for immediate steps toward climate adaptation and risk reduction.

The action plan arose out of the most pressing climate threats to our region and outlines the urgent solutions needed to protect ourselves from them. Based on months of community roundtables that identified over 700 climate resilience and adaptation solutions, the action plan targets five key priority areas and 11 actions that can be implemented immediately to make our region safer and more prepared for climate disruptions.

“Now is the time to come together in collective action to create community-driven solutions that are inclusive and equitable,” said Mona Miyasato, County Executive Officer of Santa Barbara, who participated in community discussions that informed the plan. “This is an all-hands-on-deck effort where we need to acknowledge and assist those most impacted by climate related hardships while engaging in policy changes on multiple fronts.” 

The five priority areas outlined in the action plan include: increasing resilience to wildfire, protecting public health from heat and wildfire smoke; supporting local agriculture and food systems; elevating climate justice and equity; and building capacity and collaboration. For each priority area, several actions have been identified that are community-led, intersectional, and ready to activate now.

CEC’s action plan is a reflection of what communities across Santa Barbara are currently experiencing and what they need going forward to build resilience. The plan evaluates the most pressing climate needs and opportunities, drawing extensive input from diverse community and government partners as well as from the latest climate science. 

“Our region is becoming increasingly vulnerable to devastating wildfires due to extreme drought and heat conditions exacerbated by climate change,” said CEC Director of Climate Resilience, Sharyn Main. “We must leverage the collective wisdom of our community and take bold action if we are going to keep our community safe–now and into the future." 

You can read more about how CEC is developing and implementing the action plan in our latest blog. 

View the Resilience Action Plan

Achieving Climate Resilience on the California Central Coast

About the Community Environmental Council (CEC): Recognized as a 2020 California Nonprofit of the Year and 2020 City of Santa Barbara Climate Hero, CEC has worked since 1970 to incubate and innovate real life environmental solutions that directly affect the California Central Coast. Our current work advances rapid and equitable solutions to the climate crisis – including ambitious zero carbon goals, drawdown of excess carbon, and protection against the impacts of climate change. Our programs lead to clean vehicles, solar energy, resilient food systems and reduction of single-use plastic. Learn more about why CEC is one of only five nonprofits in Santa Barbara County to have the highest possible ratings on Charity Navigator and Guidestar at CECSB.org/impact. Find CEC on the web at CECSB.org and on Facebook.com/CECSB, Instagram.com/CEC_SB, Twitter.com/CECSB, and LinkedIn.com/CECSB.