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

Starting a Garden or Farm in San Francisco

News /
Starting a garden or farm in San Francisco just got a little bit easier. Pulling together the most recent changes to city laws, the San Francisco Urban Agriculture Alliance recently released a guide to the regulations for growing and selling food within San Francisco. The guide covers a host of topics including: Finding land Gardening on private versus public land Water access Selling what…

SPUR Comments on PUC Urban Agriculture Projects

Advocacy Letter
SPUR believes that urban agriculture provides multiple benefits to the city and commends the PUC for authorizing these pilot projects. In implementing them, the PUC should consider a wide variety of urban agricultural types and take the opportunity to use these sites to create model lease language and oversight mechanisms.

The Chickens and Goats Next Door: an Oakland Snapshot

News /
Urban animal husbandry, though nothing new, is a cause for concern for many people – especially planners. Chickens, rabbits, bees and goats conjure up nightmares of odors, noises and animal cruelty. When Oakland’s planning department held a meeting to discuss changes to urban agriculture regulations, nearly 300 people showed. Like many other jurisdictions nationwide, the city is proceeding cautiously as it updates its animal regulations.

Urban Ag Goes Legit

Urbanist Article
Both San Francisco and Oakland passed legislation this year making it legal to grow and sell produce within city limits. Selling homegrown fruits and vegetables was previously illegal in both cities.

Public Utilities: Water, Power, Sewer … Food?

News /
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission took two steps in support of urban agriculture at a recent meeting. The first step was making it easier for community gardeners and urban farmers to install new water hookups at their sites. Currently, the price of a new water meter installation is approximately $8,500. That high cost barrier has led many garden projects to source their water from…

The Future of Sharp Park

Policy Brief
San Francisco is considering proposed legislation to change recreational uses at Sharp Park, a city-owned golf course and natural area located in Pacifica. The ordinance would end golfing at the site and restore it to more natural conditions. Activists eager to see a newly restored natural area and golfers eager to sustain and upgrade the course have debated the issues. SPUR weighs in with recommendations.
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