71134.
(a) Eligible entities may establish and participate in a regional climate network. Eligible entities shall consult with the Office of Planning and Research before establishing a regional climate network. Eligible entities shall notify the Office of Planning and Research in writing of the establishment, expansion, or consolidation of a regional climate network.(b) A regional climate network may be expanded or consolidated at any time consistent with this section.
(c) The Office of Planning and Research shall facilitate coordination between regions and encourage regions to incorporate as many eligible entities into one network as feasible, taking into consideration each region’s
unique vulnerabilities and land use challenges. The Office of Planning and Research shall also encourage the inclusion of entities with land use planning authority into regional climate networks.
(d) A regional climate network may develop a regional climate adaptation action plan.
(e) On or before July 1, 2022, the Office of Planning and Research shall develop guidelines that establish how a regional climate network may develop a regional climate adaptation action plan. The guidelines shall establish standards and required content for a regional climate adaptation action plan, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1) A description of the climate vulnerabilities the plan seeks to address, and planning assumptions as they relate to the climate vulnerabilities identified in the plan.
(2) An identification of key challenges and barriers to building resilience to climate adaptation facing the region.
(3) A prioritization of projects or actions that are necessary to respond to the climate vulnerabilities facing the region.
(4) Clear identification of the adaptation goals the priority projects or actions are designed to achieve, and the anticipated benefits, including, when feasible, metrics to reflect these benefits. When prioritizing projects or actions in a plan, a regional climate network shall consider all of the following:
(A) The expected nature and anticipated timing of the climate vulnerability that the project or action seeks to address and the ability of the project or action to minimize climate change impacts.
(B) Equity considerations, including the impacts the project or action has on economically disadvantaged communities, climate-vulnerable communities, as defined by the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program’s advisory council established pursuant to Section 71358, and other communities at risk of being disproportionately impacted by climate change.
(C) The benefits of the project or action on public health, infrastructure, and natural resources.
(D) Any cobenefits generated by the project or action.
(5) An assessment of the regional climate adaptation action plan’s ability to create regional benefits in response to climate vulnerabilities.
(6) A schedule for phasing
implementation of projects and actions across a region.
(7) Required monitoring to assess the ongoing effectiveness of projects and actions and to determine appropriate course corrections, to minimize the impacts of climate change within a region.
(8) An assessment of the cost of, and the associated financing strategy for, implementing the plan’s priority projects and actions, including the costs of ongoing monitoring and any necessary postimplementation evaluations.
(9) The use of natural infrastructure to respond to climate vulnerabilities where feasible.
(10) A timeline for the regional climate network to revisit the plan to reassess and make necessary updates to the plan. The regional climate network shall be encouraged to update the plan at least
once every five years.
(11) Use of the best available science as research, observations, and understanding of the impact of emissions of greenhouse gases advance.
(12) Planning information from existing and relevant local or regional planning documents, to the extent appropriate, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A) Climate adaptation action plans and vulnerability assessments.
(B) Safety elements of general plans.
(C) Local hazard mitigation plans.
(D) Sustainable communities strategies.
(E) Certified local coastal programs that have been
updated to address sea level rise.
(F) Groundwater sustainability plans.
(G) Urban water management plans.
(H) Regional transportation plans.
(I) Long-range county transportation plans.
(J) Coastal management programs and plans.
(f) The guidelines developed pursuant to this section shall go through a public process that encourages participation from impacted communities, including, but not limited to, community-based organizations, nongovernmental organizations, private sector groups, and relevant state agencies.
(g) The Office of Planning and Research shall
provide technical assistance to eligible entities developing regional climate networks and plans, including guidance on how to submit the plan for review, comments, and approval.
(h) The Office of Planning and Research shall publish on its internet website the guidelines developed pursuant to this section in draft form at least 60 days before its adoption of the guidelines for public review and comment, and shall publish on its internet website submitted plans developed pursuant to this section.