Santa Clara County
Planning for Climate Change
According to California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, the number of days with extreme heat (over 91.6 degrees) is set to rise significantly. This will create challenges for community health as well as strain our infrastructure.
The purple line represents what will happen if global emissions continue to rise at present rates. By reducing GHGs, we can help to stay on the green pathway, which will be more manageable.
The Milpitas CAP Update aims both to prepare us for these possibilities as well as help us do our part to reduce GHGs from the community.
Chart from the CalAdapt Local Climate Change Snapshot Tool
Santa Clara County
Silicon Valley 2.0
Silicon Valley 2.0 supports the entire Santa Clara County with climate risk assessment and adaptation and resilience planning. Developed by the County of Santa Clara Office of Sustainability, in collaboration with many partners, the project produced:
- Climate Adaptation Guidebook, which provides key strategies identified for climate change preparedness; and
- Web-based “Climate Change Decision Support Tool,” which allows users to run customized queries using region-specific data to model future climate change impacts and the resulting financial costs.
Silicon Valley 2.0 created a great tool for infrastructure planning in our region. Addressing climate vulnerability comprehensively means addressing social and economic aspects of climate risk, which we're undertaking as part of this CAP Update.
Adapting to Climate Change
Impacts to Residents
To prepare for ongoing climate threats, it's important to understand our risks and sensitivities.
Our community could face respiratory health impacts from wildfire smoke and heat waves, as well as injury and property damage. Some populations, like low-income, senior citizens, youth, and folks experiencing homelessness are especially vulnerable to these threats.
Adapting to Climate Change
Energy Vulnerabilities
In addition to risks to our population, the climate threats in Milpitas will also impact our energy systems. Because of extreme heat and regional wildfires, brownouts and increased energy demand are expected. Our planning process is focusing on strengthening the resilience of our electricity grid, old inefficient homes, and energy generation facilities.
Adapting to Climate Change
Flooding and Transportation Threats
Increased frequency of large storm events will threaten stormwater overflow and road/rail degradation. Our planning process is focusing on increasing resilience in these repeat flood areas and ensuring our evacuation routes are accessible.
Local Planning
Milpitas Vulnerability Assessment
Explore our Vulnerability Assessment which overviews what climate change threats will affect Milpitas. The results of the Vulnerability Assessment will inform this critical aspect of our CAP Update.
How You Can Help
Send Us Your Feedback
Ready to share your thoughts on how we better Prepare for Climate Change? Be sure to visit our Action Plan Feedback page and add your opinions across all the plan sectors.
How You Can Help
Resources for Preparedness
Sudden weather events can strike quickly! Be sure that you and your family are prepared to take action.
