We’re developing planning guidance, innovative policy strategies, and key partnerships that will bolster capacity and support local and regional efforts to implement equitable, climate-resilient land-use decisions.
Educate local, regional, and state government leaders on the climate-resilient land-use policies to prioritize, including nature-based solutions to wildfire, flooding, and drought, and prioritizing low-income communities of color who face the most serious impacts of climate change with the fewest means to adapt. For example, we released The Critical Roles of Greenbelts in Wildfire Resilience, a groundbreaking white paper that presents original research and an assessment of case studies that identifies four types of greenbelts that play a role in reducing the loss of lives and homes in extreme wildfire events while increasing overall resilience in communities and across landscapes. We also launched the Resilience Playbook, a guide for accelerating equitable adaptation to the climate crisis in the Bay Area. It offers a holistic approach to advancing solutions that address overlapping environmental, economic, and social challenges. The Playbook brings together curated strategies, recommendations, and tools to support local decision-makers and community leaders wherever they are in their journey.
Advocate for incorporating adaptation measures and innovative policy solutions into ongoing and future planning efforts, and the meaningful involvement of all people in these environmental and land-use decisions. Greenbelt Alliance is in a unique position to activate community members who already have an interest in sustainability, climate change, and environmental justice, around climate-smart housing initiatives. By working together with climate justice leaders, housing advocates and environmentalists side by side, this powerful group of stakeholders can play a transformative role in building the thriving, equitable region we need. We are doing this through our Advocacy Workshop Program, which includes an interactive session where attendees gain a base-line understanding of the local planning processes that address housing and climate needs. We also mobilize community members to take action on local policies—leveraging their voices and voting power to target key decision makers in order to a) approve climate-resilient plans and policies and b) hold elected officials accountable for implementing adopted policies.
Collaborate with various agencies, sectors, jurisdictions, and diverse community-based organizations to unlock regional coordination in planning for climate impacts. We are leading a coalition of grass roots and nonprofit environmental organizations along with leaders in Contra Costa, providing detailed suggestions that reflect our vision for a climate resilient future that should be implemented in the County’s General Plan and Climate Action Plan updates.
We have released original research documenting the role of greenbelts as policy tools for wildfire resilience.
We are creating easy-to-use guidelines documenting climate-resilient land-use policies and template language to build capacity for cities and counties in their local planning.
We are conducting policy analysis on best practices and cutting-edge, market-based approaches to unlock bold policy solutions to wildfire mitigation and resilience.
We are connecting with stakeholders across the region to discuss coordinated plans to address Bay Area wildfire planning and resilience.
Throughout our 60-year history, Greenbelt Alliance has touched the lives of thousands of Bay Area people. If you have a great story about your experience with us, we can’t wait to hear it. Share the love here.
Sign on to our support letter below to let Sunnyvale City Council know you support more homes along El Camino Real.
