Climate Resilient and Sustainable Tourism in California
Enhancing Sustainability and Climate Preparedness Across 12 Tourism Regions in the State of California
Risklayer is at the forefront of a 2-year partnership with JLL, collaborating on a groundbreaking project for Visit California. This ambitious endeavor focuses on enhancing climate resilience and sustainability throughout California's 12 distinct tourism regions. The ultimate goal is to forge stronger bonds between California communities and the tourism industry while crafting more resilient and sustainable destinations across the state.
The project's scope is extensive, addressing a comprehensive array of resilience and sustainability issues. From grappling with overcrowded tourist destinations to tackling housing imbalances, environmental challenges, workforce development, and infrastructure needs, Risklayer is spearheading the climate-related resilience assessments.
These assessments encompass a wide spectrum of analytical and qualitative factors. On the analytical front, the project involves conducting multi-hazard analysis to calculate expected annual losses. Additionally, Risklayer leverages the latest CMIP-6 climate models to simulate the impact of climate change on tourism for future conditions. This cutting-edge modeling enables destinations to proactively prepare for and mitigate the effects of climate change on their tourism industry.
In tandem with the analytical aspects, the project delves into qualitative dimensions. This includes a participatory process facilitated by a Resilience and Sustainability Scorecard. Through this scorecard, the project team assesses a destination's capacity to withstand and adapt to disaster and climate change impacts. It also takes into account the destination's economic, social, and environmental impacts, catering to the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities.
The project features collaboration with various consulting partners, including Ernst & Young, Tourism Economics, the World Travel and Tourism Council, Tourism Diversity Matters, The Zimmerman Agency, Unisphere Ideas, and SWCA Environmental Consultants. Funding for this vital program stems from a $4.9 million allocation from a U.S. Economic Development Administration pandemic recovery grant awarded to California. This substantial investment underscores the importance of building climate resilience and sustainability in the state's tourism industry, safeguarding its future in the face of climate challenges.
The tool and training were piloted at district hospitals and primary health centers in Sikkim, followed by an on-site training for the healthcare staff.
