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City of San José Approved Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan
New plan helps the City prepare for extreme heat, flooding, wildfire, and other climate risks
SAN JOSE, Calif. (April 2, 2026) - The City of San José approved the
City's Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan (CARP) on March 3, 2026, marking an important step to prepare the community for the impacts of climate change and strengthen long-term resilience.
Climate change is already affecting communities across the region. San José is experiencing hotter temperatures, more frequent wildfire smoke, and increased flooding risk. The CARP helps the City plan for these challenges and respond more effectively.
"The Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan gives us a clear roadmap to prepare for climate impacts across City services and operations," said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. "It helps us better coordinate, prioritize resources, and help residents who are most vulnerable to climate risks."
The CARP focuses on reducing the impact of climate hazards, including extreme heat, flooding, wildfire, drought, and sea-level rise. The plan outlines actions the City can take to better protect residents, infrastructure, and the natural environment.
"Recent record-breaking heat across the region is a reminder that our climate is changing, and we have a responsibility to keep San José green and safe for future generations," said Mayor Matt Mahan. "Through the Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan, we will protect residents, strengthen local infrastructure, and take practical steps to meet the future head on."
The CARP complements the City's existing climate initiatives, including Climate Smart San José. While Climate Smart focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the CARP focuses on preparing the community for anticipated climate impacts. Stronger preparation for climate impacts also helps the City develop plans to quickly respond to emergencies such as flooding and wildfires.
"While we work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through clean energy procurement and customer programs, the CARP ensures we are also preparing for climate impacts that are impacting our residents and businesses," said Lori Mitchell, San José Clean Energy Director. "Together, these efforts help create a more sustainable, resilient future for our community."
Key elements of the CARP include:
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Preparing for Climate Hazards: The plan identifies key climate risks facing San José.
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Protecting Vulnerable Communities: The plan prioritizes actions that help residents who are most at risk from climate impacts, including older adults, children, people with pre-existing health conditions, and low-income households.
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Strengthening Infrastructure and Natural Systems: The plan supports investments in resilient infrastructure and nature-based solutions, such as increasing urban trees and green spaces that help reduce temperatures and manage stormwater.
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Citywide Coordination: The plan provides a framework for City departments to include climate adaptation in planning, emergency preparedness, and future projects.
By adopting the CARP, San José is committed to thoughtful, community-centric solutions to address climate impacts and to build a more resilient and equitable future for all residents.
About the City of San José
With almost 1 million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States, Northern California's largest city, and the 12th largest city in the nation. San José's transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world.
About Climate Smart San José
Climate Smart San José (Climate Smart), adopted by the City Council in 2018 and updated in 2025, lays out how San José is addressing climate change. Climate Smart is one of the first detailed City plans for reaching the targets of the international Paris Agreement. To get there, the Climate Smart 2025 update focused the City's efforts on key strategies for energy, transportation, and buildings.
About San José Clean Energy
San José Clean Energy (SJCE) is the local, not-for-profit electricity generation provider for homes and businesses in the City of San José. SJCE is operated by the City's Energy Department and governed by the City Council. SJCE provides more than 350,000 customer accounts with clean energy at competitive rates plus the additional benefits of customer choice, community programs, local control, transparency, and accountability. For more information, please visit
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