Climate change impacts on the statewide State Highway System and transportation networks statewide will increase in frequency and severity in the coming years and decades. Caltrans is developing a climate adaptation toolkit to enable climate risk screening and adaptation planning across the state.

Pathways Climate Institute is co-leading with CMG Landscape Architecture the development of Alameda’s Shoreline Adaptation Plan, identifying near- and long-term strategies to address coastal flooding and groundwater rise under a range of sea level rise scenarios. The Plan is anticipated to be one of the first local plans designed to comply with the Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan (RSAP) guidelines adopted by the San Francisco Bay Area Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) in December 2024.

The Town of Mammoth Lakes is a small municipality in the Eastern Sierra and is developing their first Climate Adaptation and Action Plan (CAAP) funded by the California Department of Transportation Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program. Pathways Climate Institute, as a subconsultant to Dudek, is supporting the development of the Town of Mammoth Lakes first CAAP.

Pathways Climate Institute, as part of a multi-disciplinary team led by AECOM, is leading the development of a shoreline adaptation plan for Solano County. The Plan is anticipated to be one of the first local plans designed to comply with the Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan (RSAP) guidelines adopted by the San Francisco Bay Area Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) in December 2024.

Pathways Climate Institute, with CMG Landscape Architecture and ESA, is studying how sand naturally moves in Alameda's South Shore area and affects San Leandro Bay and Bay Farm Island. The findings will inform nature-based pilot projects to improve sand management and address sea level rise and coastal erosion.

Caltrans is developing a long-term sea level rise adaptation plan for the Highway 101 corridor in Marin County. This low-lying corridor already experiences recurring and disruptive flooding several times per year, particularly at the Manzanita Park and Ride and the Lucky Drive interchange. Pathways Climate Institute, as a subconsultant to Arup, is leading the coastal hazards assessment.

Pathways Climate Institute, in collaboration with ARUP, is supporting Caltrans develop conceptual adaptation strategies for the eastern approach to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on routes I-80, 580, and 880. The eastern approach faces an urgent threat from sea level rise and storm surge.

California is already experiencing the impacts of climate change. Leveraging diverse expertise throughout the state, the Fifth Assessment will contribute to the scientific foundation for understanding climate-related vulnerability throughout the state and will support on-the-ground implementation and decision-making at the local, regional, tribal, and state levels, focusing on the needs of communities most vulnerable to climate change impacts.

The Yosemite Slough Neighborhood Adaptation Strategy outlines strategies to prepare the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood to adapt to sea level rise and coastal flooding. This project assessed the potential risks and impacts and plans for 3.5 to 7 feet of sea level rise by 2100. As a subconsultant to AECOM, Pathways Climate Institute led the YSNAS exposure assessment and contaminated lands report.

Pathways Climate Institute developed a location-specific version of Game of Floods (Game of Floods – Princeton) to play with the community as part of the community outreach plan for Plan Princeton. Plan Princeton is a study by the County of San Mateo to update the development plan for Princeton.

Pathways Climate Institute, in collaboration with Raimi + Associates, is supporting the City of Alameda conduct its mid-cycle update of the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP). The update includes a greenhouse gas inventory and serves as a mid-cycle update and blueprint for the next phase of the City’s climate work from 2025-2030 with a focus on implementation steps needed to achieve net zero emissions.

Pathways Climate Institute, as prime, is leading the Regional Transportation Vulnerability Assessment for the TAMC. This project includes conducting an existing conditions review; a vulnerability assessment; an analysis of impacts to low income and disadvantaged communities; developing an evaluation framework; and the development of stakeholder groups.

As a subconsultant to Arup, Pathways Climate Institute supported work to advance adaptation planning, identify potential solutions to the threats sea level rise poses to Marin communities, roadways, critical assets, and guide future implementation of infrastructure. Pathways conducted an exposure assessment of key assets to sea level rise, emergent groundwater, and coastal flooding.

The Oakland-Alameda Adaptation Committee is a coalition of communities and stakeholders working to coordinate and accelerate sea level rise adaptation, protect and restore water quality, recreation, and habitat, and promote community resilience. Pathways Climate Institute, in collaboration with CMG Landscape Architecture is leading the subregional long-term adaptation plan and supporting both near-term projects.

The National Climate Assessment informs the Nation about the impacts of climate variability and climate change on the U.S., as well as presenting what is being done, and what can be done, to minimize impacts and risks. The impacts of climate change are happening faster than originally projected, with impacts happening today that climate scientists originally projected were decades away.

Recognizing the urgent need to adapt our waterfront communities to sea level rise (SLR) and coastal flooding, the Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Consequences Assessment describes the vulnerability of public buildings and infrastructure and the consequences on people, the economy, and the environment.

Earth’s climate is now changing faster than at any point in the history of modern civilization, primarily as a result of human activities. Global climate change has already resulted in a wide range of impacts across every region of the country.

Pathways Climate Institute, in collaboration with Ascent, prepared a transportation-specific Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) for the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) that identifies priority actions to future-proof the system, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce vehicle miles traveled.

Pathways Climate Institute in collaboration with the Water Utility Climate Alliance led a project that addresses the fundamental gap between climate modeling in the research and academic space and the practical use of this information by planners, engineers, and decision makers with a focus on stormwater and wastewater utilities.

Released in March 2016, the Sea Level Rise Action Plan defines an overarching vision and set of objectives for future sea level rise and coastal flooding planning and mitigation in San Francisco. The Action Plan provides the foundation for the Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Consequence Assessment and the Port's Waterfront Resilient Program.

Pathways Climate Institute was a member of the All Bay Collective (ABC): a diverse group of locally based/globally experienced professionals, academics, students, and policy makers.

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, through the Sewer System Improvement Program, is upgrading and enhancing the combined sewer system to increase the overall efficiency, reliability, and resilience of the system. Climate change is one of many considerations informing the multi-billion-dollar program.

Working towards a regional strategy to adapt San Francisco Bay's shoreline to sea level rise and other climate hazards.

Pathways Climate Institute is supporting the Waterfront Resilience Program and USACE Flood Study along 7.5 miles of bayside shoreline that is home to some of the region’s most popular open spaces and attractions, a national historic district, hundreds of small businesses, nearby housing, and maritime and industrial uses.

Dr. Kris May has served as the City and County of San Francisco’s key Sea Level Rise Strategic Partner and a member of the City’s Sea Level Rise Working group since 2013. Pathways Climate Institute developed the comprehensive (automated) checklist for projects submitted to the City's Capital Plan, including innovative tools to reduce the burden on project managers complying with the City's guidelines.

The Shoreline Protection Program will protect the Airport’s assets and operations from flooding from a 100-year storm surge and future sea level rise due to climate change. Pathways Climate Institute provided sea level rise and coastal flood protection design guidance.

The Islais Creek Mobility Adaptation Strategy is a long-range vision for the Islais Creek shoreline to protect transportation infrastructure, enhance shoreline access and habitat, and nurture community resiliency in adjoining neighborhoods.

This project will realign Calabazas and San Tomas Aquino creeks to directly flow into the A8 Ponds located at the southern boundary of San Francisco Bay and the northern shoreline of Santa Clara County. This project supports the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project.

Pathways Climate Institute, in collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, is evaluating how extreme storms may change under future climate conditions. This project fills a critical data gap in the Bay Area, including robust future condition Intensity-Duration-Frequency curves.

Pathways Climate Institute and the San Francisco Estuary Institute collaborated to extend their groundwater research to better support regional adaptation planning. This ground-breaking study currently covers Alameda, Marin, San Mateo, and San Francisco Counties, providing publicly available data to support climate resilience and adaptation.

The City of Palo Alto released a vulnerability assessment that considers both sea level rise and the response of the shallow groundwater layer to sea level rise. Pathways Climate Institute completed groundwater modeling and mapping and led the exposure assessment of all City infrastructure and residential parcels.

CalWater is the largest investor-owned U.S. water utility west of the Mississippi River, providing water to more than 472,000 customers across 24 service districts throughout the state. Pathways Climate Institute assessed how climate change could impact water resources and supply as well as the infrastructure that treats and delivers water to residential, industrial, commercial, and agricultural customers.