Great news! The Commission unanimously adopted the updated Sea Level Rise (SLR) Policy Guidance during its November 2024 hearing.
The updates focus on three main areas:
- Evolving best available science on sea level rise
- Environmental justice principles and planning considerations
- New guidelines for Senate Bill 272, requiring local governments to include sea level plans in Local Coastal Programs
This update incorporated input from eight environmental justice (EJ) and SLR experts from the start to ensure community voices and EJ principles were central throughout the Guidance. For more details, visit the Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance webpage or view the Staff Report here. You can also watch the hearing recording (discussion begins at 42 minutes in the November 13 recording).
In the near future, we will be holding webinars and conducting additional outreach to help local governments, permit applicants, community members, and interested stakeholders understand how to implement the EJ updates of the Guidance. Stay tuned!