Climate Change

The Santa Lucia Conservancy works to train up a local workforce focused on reducing wildfire risk on the Central Coast. And, primary election candidates in Santa Cruz County discuss their plans for housing.

The deadline to submit public comments on a proposed federal oil and gas leasing program off the Central Coast is Feb. 26. And, state senators reaffirm California’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives amid ongoing attacks from the Trump administration.

A draft version of a new farm bill would bring back a popular program that helps local fruit and vegetable growers, but overall, bigger farms would benefit most. And, California is partnering with the United Kingdom to develop clean energy projects.

A bill introduced this week aims to ensure the future of the popular California State Library Parks Pass program. And, a concerning trend continues for migrating Monarch butterflies.

Monterey and Santa Cruz counties are at the center of a power struggle with the state over a key part of the clean energy transition—battery storage.

A regional housing summit in Salinas envisions how the city can build new affordable housing quickly. Plus, the City of Santa Cruz seeks public input on neighborhood-scale coastal resiliency plans.

Local food pantries say they're seeing more people in food lines as CalFresh benefits are on hold. And, a UC Davis study found over 80% of elementary schools in California experienced some loss of trees between 2018 and 2022.

The first report breaking down the value and vulnerability of surf breaks in Santa Cruz is out. And an indigenous Samoan chief who lives in Santa Cruz attends the inaugural Communicating Climate Solutions Symposium organized by the UC Santa Cruz Science Communication Program.

Congressional legislation introduced this week aims to provide relief to people with federally backed housing loans following climate disaster. And state legislation banning the sale of new Glock handguns could reach Gov. Newsom's desk by late August.

Federal dollars that help small growers experiment with climate-smart agricultural practices are drying up. One Aromas farmer has seen the benefits and wants to find ways to keep her land nourished despite precarious funding.