Jackson, Schneider to Talk Climate Change

Climate change and responses from state and local emergency services will be the theme of a talk on Friday afternoon from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Supervisors Hearing Room in the county administration building.

State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, who chairs the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management, will open the discussion that will examine how the state and individual counties are updating their emergency plans to prepare for the effects of climate change, including sea-level rise, hotter and drier summers, and a longer fire season.

“[N]ot only do we need to fight climate change with policies to reduce carbon emissions, we also need to plan and prepare for how it is going to impact our communities over the coming years,” said Jackson in a statement. “California is facing a ‘new normal’ as a result of climate change that we’re just beginning to get a glimpse of with this year’s very severe drought.”

Mark Ghilarducci, director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, Santa Barbara and Ventura representatives, Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider, among others, will also participate.

The discussion will also be streamed live here.