UC ANR contributes to increased preparedness for and resilience to extreme weather and climate change.

During 2020, UC ANR’s climate smart agriculture programs, in partnership with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, provided 125 farmers with grants to help them implement practices that build resilience to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

Other climate-related efforts included building fire resilience to address the intense wildfires that result from the changing climate. UC ANR scientists worked with private landowners to demonstrate the techniques and benefits of using prescribed fire on private lands across the state. They raised more than $350,000 in grants to support community-based prescribed fire organizations with training, planning and equipment. The momentum informed three bills that were signed into law: SB 901, which includes $200 million per year for the next five years to fund forest health and fire prevention work; SB 1260, which focuses primarily on prescribed fire; and AB 2091, which mandates the development of new insurance options for prescribed fire. 

Another network of UC ANR scientists helped conduct California’s Fourth Climate Assessment. As a result of the 2019 North Coast Region workshop, 90% of the 200 participants from local governments, tribes and nongovernmental organizations gained a better understanding of regional vulnerabilities to climate change and 77% learned strategies for local climate action.