The Coastal and Ocean Resources Working Group for the Climate Action Team (CO-CAT)
The Coastal and Ocean Resources Working Group for the Climate Action Team (CO-CAT) is a working group comprised of senior level staff from California state agencies with ocean and coastal resource management responsibilities. CO-CAT’s task is to ensure the state’s ability to adapt to climate change impacts on ocean and coastal resources while supporting implementation of global warming emission reduction programs.
The CO-CAT is a forum for state agencies to share information and coordinate on actions, including to implement the ocean and coastal resources chapter of the 2014 Safeguarding California Plan and the 2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategy.
CO-CAT also develops guidance on sea-level rise. On April of 2013, an update to the State of California Sea-Level Rise Guidance Document was complete. This SLR Guidance provides information and recommendations to enhance consistency across agencies in their development of approaches to sea-level rise. The updated SLR Guidance incorporates new information presented in the National Academy of Sciences report on Sea-Level Rise for the Coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington released June 2012. For more background on the update to the SLR Guidance document, please click here.
CO-CAT membership includes staff from the following agencies:
- Air Resources Board,
- California Coastal Commission,
- California Energy Commission,
- Delta Conservancy,
- Delta Stewardship Council,
- Department of Boating and Waterways,
- Department of Energy,
- Department of Fish and Wildlife,
- Department of Food and Agriculture,
- Department of General Services,
- Department of Parks and Recreation,
- Department of Public Health,
- Department of Toxic Substances Control,
- Department of Transportation,
- Department of Water Resources,
- Environmental Protection Agency,
- Fish and Game Commission,
- Governor’s Office of Planning and Research,
- Natural Resources Agency,
- Ocean Protection Council,
- San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission,
- State Coastal Conservancy,
- State Lands Commission,
- State Transportation Agency,
- State Water Resources Control Board, and
- Strategic Growth Council
Based on the Sea-Level Rise Resolution that the OPC adopted on March 11, 2011, the OPC will provide ongoing coordination with the OPC Science Advisory Team and the CO-CAT to support regular updates to guidance on sea-level rise based upon current scientific understanding and projections.
Related Links:
- 2013 State of California Sea-Level Rise Guidance Document
- 2012 National Academy of Sciences report on Sea-Level Rise for the Coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington
- State of California Climate Change Portal
- OPC Climate Change web page