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 Supports California Nutrition Incentives Act (AB 1321)

Advocacy Letter
SPUR supports Assembly Bill 1321, proposed by Assemblymember Phil Ting that creates the administrative framework within the California Department of Food and Agriculture for expansion of healthy food incentives at farmers' markets statewide and pilot projects at grocery stores.

Big Changes at GGNRA

News /
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area lost two longtime leaders this month, Frank Dean and Nancy Hornor, both of whom were instrumental in the development of the Ocean Beach Master Plan. Congratulations to them both on their well-deserved retirement.

The Long-Awaited Transformation of SF’s Southeast Waterfront

News /
The Blue Greenway project proposes a 13-mile continuous open space and waterway network along San Francisco's southeastern waterfront. The idea has enormous support, but it has yet to overcome some hurdles, namely a geography that encompasses dozens of sites with dozens of owners. To address these complications, SPUR, the San Francisco Parks Alliance and others partners have kicked off the Blue Greenway Action Plan.

SPUR Supports Santa Clara County Draft Health Element

Advocacy Letter
SPUR supports the draft Health Element of the Santa Clara County General Plan, which includes many strategies that align with SPUR's recommendations in the realms of land use, urban design, food access, transportation and climate change mitigation.

Bay Area Vs. Drought: How Are We Doing?

News /
Headlines are sounding the alarm that California might have only one year of water left. How are water suppliers in the Bay Area responding to our state’s worsening drought? This week SPUR invited a few of the region’s principal water managers to share the outlook from their parts of the Bay Area.
Garden to Table's Taylor Street Farm in San Jose.

Urban Ag Incentive Proposals Spread in California

News /
The idea of urban agriculture incentive zones has begun to spread within California. On February 10, both the City of Sacramento and Santa Clara County took official steps toward creating zones that would allow landowners to receive a property tax reduction in exchange for committing their land to urban gardening or farming for at least five years.
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