Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Jackie Speier, District 1
Supervisor Lisa Gauthier, District 4
Subject: California Legislation for Climate Superfund
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution supporting California legislation for a climate superfund.
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BACKGROUND:
Climate change, driven in large part by greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather and climate-related disasters across California, including devastating wildfires, torrential storms, severe flooding, extreme heat, unprecedented drought, damaging sea level rise, and worsening air quality.
Globally and locally, climate change disproportionately impacts populations that are least responsible for its causes, including historically underserved communities. It places increasing financial burdens on local governments, taxpayers, residents, and small businesses through rising costs for emergency response, public health impacts, infrastructure repair, disaster recovery, property damage, food system disruptions, and long-term climate adaptation.
California experienced historic wildfire seasons in 2020, with 8,648 wildfires burning more than 4.3 million acres, including in San Mateo County with the CZU Lightning Complex fire. In 2025, with the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles alone burned 37,000 acres, destroying 16,000 structures, resulting in the deaths of 30 community members and displacement of thousands of families, and causing over $250 billion in damages.
Climate change has resulted in increased drought conditions in the region, including an unprecedented multi-year drought that led to a 1-in-500-year low in Sierra snowpack and $2.1 billion in economic and job losses. The droughts not only exacerbate threats from wildfire, flooding, and landslides, but also threaten the region's water supply.
Extreme heat, increased wildfires, and drou...
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