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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Preparing California for sea-level rise

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Government
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#OceanAction40815
    Description
    Description
    Given current trends in greenhouse gas emissions, sea levels are expected to increase significantly over the next century, threatening coastal ecosystems, communities and infrastructure along the California coast and globally. In the face of rising seas, decisions made today will have consequences for the resiliency of natural and built environments in the future.

    To ensure that state agencies and local governments account for sea-level rise in their planning and as such, strengthen the resilience of coastal ecosystems by considering the impact of their decisions on future resource conditions - the State of California commits to updating Californias Sea-Level Rise Guidance Document by early 2018. This update will reflect recent advances in ice loss science and projections of sea-level rise and will help state and local agencies incorporate sea-level rise into their decision-making.

    Additionally, the State of California commits to updating its climate adaptation plan, Safeguarding California, to include recommendations prioritizing natural infrastructure, living shorelines, and other actions that will protect and restore beaches and coastal ecosystems in the face of coastal erosion, sea-level rise, and habitat degradation.

    California also commits to advancing science to better understand the causes and impacts of sea-level rise, as well as other climate change impacts on ocean ecosystems.
    Partners
    California Natural Resources Agency (government), California Ocean Protection Council (government), California Governors Office of Planning and Research (government), California Energy Commission (government), Coastal and Ocean Working Group of the State of California Climate Action Team (government), California Ocean Science Trust (non-governmental organization)

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
    Californias updated climate adaptation plan, Safeguarding California, with goals and actions for resilient natural shorelines
    Projects related to advancing the science of sea-level rise in California and other climate impacts on the oceans as part of Californias 4th Climate Assessment
    Californias updated Sea-Level Rise Guidance Document adopted
    Financing (in USD)
    110000
    Staff / Technical expertise
    Staff from the California Governors Office of Planning and Research and the California Energy Commission participate in a Policy Advisory Committee with the California Natural Resources Agency and California Ocean Protection Council to guide the update of
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
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    Timeline
    01 September 2015 (start date)
    01 December 2018 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Ocean Protection Council on behalf of the State of California
    SDGs
    Geographical coverage
    Sacramento, California, United States of America
    Ocean Basins
    North Pacific
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Marine and coastal ecosystems management
    Website/More information
    N/A
    Countries
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    Contact Information

    Jenn Eckerle, Deputy Director, Ocean Protection Council