California Adaptation Planning Guide (APG)
The California Adaptation Planning Guide (APG) is designed to support local government, regional organizations, and climate collaborative groups to integrate best practices and current science into their adaptation planning efforts. The APG provides helpful resources to local governments as they comply with state requirements for local adaptation planning, and provides recommendations and advice on community-level climate change adaptation planning.
For questions, contact: APG@CalOES.ca.gov
       CLICK TO READ THE APG
In the last decade, Californians have endured historic wildfires, severe drought, rising seas, flood damage, and record high temperatures – all driven by climate change. While the impacts vary across regions of California, the evidence is clear – every corner of the state is already experiencing climate change impacts, requiring sustained commitment to ambitious emissions reductions and proactive implementation of climate adaptation and resilience efforts. Cal OES has been at the forefront of planning for, responding to, and recovering from climate impacts.
The California APG in particular supports local governments, regional organizations, and climate collaborative groups to integrate best practices and current science into their adaptation planning efforts.
2026 Adaptation Planning Guide Update
California committed to updating the Adaptation Planning Guide in 2026 within one year of an update to the Climate Adaptation Strategy, and as necessary thereafter (SB 246, Wieckowski 2015) to provide the best available planning guidance to promote coordinated and data-driven and effective local action to California communities.
The 2026 Adaptation Planning Guide is being developed in response to the State’s 2024 update to California’s Climate Adaptation Strategy, in recognition of the need for new guidance for local practitioners addressing climate related impacts in their local plans.
Building on the foundation of the 2024 Climate Adaptation Strategy, Cal OES in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) and the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) are leading the update of California’s 3rd edition to the Adaptation Planning Guide to ensure California communities have the most current and data-driven guidance for mitigating and adapting to climate change related hazards.
Cal OES worked closely with CNRA and LCI and partners throughout Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 to produce the first draft of the 2026 Adaptation Planning Guide. This draft will be released for public comment this Summer and includes new updated guidance based on input from agency partners.
2026 APG Update and Public Review Process
Public Comment Period
45 Day Public Review Period:  July 13 – August 27, 2026
The public comment draft of the 2026 APG will be found on this page.
Comments received on the 2026 APG Update Public Draft will provide Cal OES and State partners with information for considering revisions to the Public Draft for preparation of the Final 2026 APG Update.
Public Workshops
To fulfill the public participation requirements of SB 246 and ensure the plan reflects the perspectives of communities across the state, Cal OES will be facilitating three regional public workshops from July through August 2026 during the plan’s public comment period.
The three public workshop locations are intended to provide geographic coverage across three of California’s regions: Northern, Central, and Southern California, and reflect the State’s wide range of climate vulnerabilities, including wildfire, extreme heat, drought, flooding, and sea level rise.
Feedback gathered through the workshops and broader public comment process will be shared with agency partners in Fall 2026 and incorporated into the Final 2026 APG, slated for release in November 2026.
More information about the public workshops (including dates and locations) will be posted on this webpage soon.
Help shape the 2026 California Adaptation Planning Guide
Your perspective is essential. Please take a few minutes to complete our short survey and share what would make the APG most valuable for your organization and resiliency pursuits.
To get involved, email APG@CalOES.ca.gov.Â
Click HERE for the informational flyer.
Additional Climate Resources
California State Hazard Mitigation Plan (SHMP)
The SHMP is the California’s primary hazard mitigation guidance.
Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program (ICARP)
ICARP houses the following and more:
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- Adaptation Clearinghouse: a centralized library of information and over 1000 California-specific resources for adapting to climate change
- Cal-Adapt: the State’s climate change data download and visualization platform
- Climate Adaptation Strategy: the State’s strategic path to building climate resilience
California Climate Change Assessment
This assessment provides information to build resilience to climate impacts.
California Climate Action Team (CAT)
CAT is a multi-agency team that coordinates California’s statewide climate efforts.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
The IPCC is the United Nations’ body for assessing the science related to climate change.
Program Contacts
State Mitigation Planning Unit
Hazard Mitigation Section
Recovery Directorate
Email: APG@CalOES.ca.gov