photo of estuary at Crissy Field at sunset

Sustainability and Resilience

We believe: The region should be environmentally just, carbon-neutral,
and resilient to climate change and earthquakes.

Our Goals

• Decarbonize buildings.

• Make the region resilient to sea level rise and other climate-driven natural disasters.

• Improve communities’ resilience to earthquakes.

transect of a bayshore neighborhood with ground water beneath the soil

SPUR Report

Look Out Below

Bay Area cities planning for sea level rise need to address another emerging hazard: groundwater rise. Our case study on East Palo Alto offers recommendations applicable to other vulnerable communities along the San Francisco Bay shore.
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illustration of houses plugging into the electricity grid

SPUR Report

Closing the Electrification Affordability Gap

New Bay Area regulations are ushering in a transition from polluting gas furnaces and water heaters to zero-emissions electric heat pumps. SPUR’s action plan shows how to make this transition affordable for low-income households.
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photo of Ocean Beach in San Francisco

Initiative

Ocean Beach Master Plan

San Francisco's Ocean Beach faces significant challenges. SPUR led a public process to develop a comprehensive vision to address sea level rise, protect infrastructure, restore coastal ecosystems, and improve public access.
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historic photo of houses damaged in the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

Initiative

The Resilient City

We know that another major earthquake will strike San Francisco — we just don’t know when. SPUR's Resilient City Initiative recommends steps the city should take before, during, and after the next big quake.
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Updates and Events

SPUR Opposes Revised Eligibility Rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Advocacy Letter
SPUR opposes the proposed revision of the categorical eligibility rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SPUR supports maximizing enrollment in federally funded food assistance programs and the administration should be working to expand eligibility not shrink it. SPUR urges the SNAP Program Design Board to oppose the proposed changes.

Water on All Sides

Urbanist Article
Formidable challenges aren’t keeping Miami from taking bold action against climate change.

SPUR supports the City of San Jose ordinance to adopt Reach Codes for new construction city-wide

Advocacy Letter
SPUR supports the proposed ordinance to adopt city-wide reach codes as a way to further realize the Climate Smart San Jose plan. This ordinance upholds many of the principles laid out in our 2016 report, Fossil-Free Bay Area, such as increasing the energy performance of new buildings and establishing high-efficiency standards is a key strategy to reducing our carbon footprint and fossil fuel use.

How Are San Francisco Schools Doing on Their Commitment to Better Food?

News /
In 2016 the San Francisco Unified School District adopted the Good Food Purchasing Policy, setting criteria and goals for sourcing food ethically, providing healthy options and honoring fair labor practices. Recently , Student Nutrition Services Director Jennifer LeBarre came to SPUR to give an update on how the district is doing on meeting its goals.

SPUR Support for San Jose's Recent Decisions Regarding Coyote Valley

Advocacy Letter
SPUR supports two decisions the San Jose City Council recently made in regard to Coyote Valley: 1. The decision to revisit the long-term vision for Coyote Valley as part of the General Plan 4-Year Review and 2. the council’s continued support for allocating up to $50 million dollars of Measure T funding for Coyote Valley, as was envisioned in the campaign for the ballot measure.
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