California has experienced unprecedented wildfire damage in the last several years as climate change has increased temperatures and dried out land and vegetation. The seven largest wildfires in recorded California history have all taken place in the last four years. As a state, we need to develop tools to help us combat wildfire risk in order to save lives, homes and communities. At the same time, the state is experiencing a massive housing shortage, which is driving up the cost of housing and forcing people to move farther away from job centers in search of more affordable housing.
The connection between housing policy and climate change is clear. If urban areas fail to produce housing in walkable neighborhoods near transit and jobs, more and more people will drive, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and fueling hotter temperatures. In California, climate change has already led to historic heat waves and drought that parch vegetation, exacerbating the wildfires that burn down homes and pollute our air.
The state has a responsibility to keep communities safe from wildfires and other hazards. It also has a responsibility to ensure there is enough housing to meet the needs of all Californians. How should state leaders balance these two goals?
SPUR, Greenbelt Alliance and Calif
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