About the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience
Sitting on the edge of the Monterey Bay and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, UC Santa Cruz is nationally recognized for its marine science and coastal sustainability research. We are uniquely situated to develop innovative
strategies to enhance coastal resilience in the face of a rapidly changing climate. Our internationally renowned faculty and researchers bring important and varied expertise connecting Science & Research, Policy & Practice; Training & Engagement.
The UCSC Center for Coastal Climate Resilience is based centrally in the Office of Research under the Vice Chancellor for Research. The center aims to advance campus research and to partner with state and federal agencies as well
as private foundations to address coastal climate change, resilience, and sustainability. The center has been established with a state budget allocation of
$20 million and core faculty are supported additionally by large grants from NSF Coastlines & People, NOAA, US Department of Defense, and the AXA Research Fund among others.
The Center supports projects that bring together researchers and practitioners to build innovative climate solutions. Project leads come from across campus in all divisions, including Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Engineering,
and Physical & Biological Sciences.
Our work brings together partners in research, policy and practice, and community engagement to reduce the impacts from climate change. We work with policymakers in local, state, national, and international agencies and practitioners
from community and environmental organizations and businesses such as insurance, engineering, and climate finance.
Strategy
Building coastal resilience by engaging partners, fostering leaders, and addressing the challenges from climate change with strategic focus in 6 key areas:
ADVANCING CLIMATE ADAPTATION
DEVELOPING NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS
ENABLING MARKET OPTIONS
RESTORING NATURAL RESOURCES
SUPPORTING CLIMATE JUSTICE
STRENGTHENING COMMUNICATIONS
Solutions
Our work brings together partners in research, community engagement, and policy and practice to develop solutions that reduce the impacts from climate change. We work with policymakers in local, state, national, and international agencies
and practitioners from community groups, environmental organizations, and businesses in the fields of insurance, engineering, and climate finance. Social justice is central to our work at UC Santa Cruz. We recognize that the impacts
of climate change most affect communities that have contributed the least to the problem, and we work to resolve this inequity.
identifying coral reefs as infrastructure
UC Santa Cruz and federal agency partners drafted a policy resolution that advances funding for reef protections for people.
recharging groundwater
Our researchers developed a novel incentive program that uses water rebates to pay for costs associated with groundwater runoff.
advancing climate adaptation
UC Santa Cruz is working with the State of California to measure the risks and benefits of adaptation solutions for our coastal communities.
Funding nature-based solutions
We aim to redirect public and private risk and recovery funding so that it is invested equitably in cost-effective natural defenses.
restoring coral reefs
UC Santa Cruz scientists are playing a key role in a coral reef restoration project to protect coastal regions in Florida and the Caribbean.
developing ai to monitor rip currents
Our researchers are using artificial intelligence technology to monitor shoreline changes and rip currents to alert for potential hazards.