Each year, hundreds of Californians work to improve the health and wellbeing of their communities by spearheading California Climate Investments projects, which are designed to support a more sustainable, more resilient future. Learn what these projects have accomplished in the Central Coast counties of Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz.
Cumulative Investments in the Central Coast
As of May 31, 2023
$413 million total implemented funds
4% of statewide California Climate Investments funding
18,219 projects
$257 million benefiting priority populations
62% of funds benefiting priority populations
4,024,762 MTCO2e estimated GHG emissions reductions
2,031 tons estimated criteria air pollutant reductions
2022 Achievements
Reporting period: Dec 1, 2021 – Nov 30, 2022
$119 million in newly implemented funds
880 new projects
What does this mean for you?
Here is some of what our 2022 grantees are bringing to the region:
14,994 acres of land conservation or restoration
Over 800 projects in the natural and working lands, transit, and other sectors will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 1.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent
60 million gallons of fuel reductions through transit, affordable housing, and agricultural projects
Central Coast Climate Investments in Action
Supported by a $488,760 from the Climate Ready Program, the Big Sur Land Trust will transform Carr lake into a multi-benefit green space in the heart of Salinas
Addresses a community need for parks and green space while restoring seasonal wetlands and native vegetation
Multi-benefits include: reducing greenhouse gas emissions through carbon sequestration, improving air quality, providing floodplain enhancement, and improving water quality
The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments completed the Cool Blocks Try Transit project, a neighborhood outreach and capacity building campaign
Over 400 residents of the Isla Vista community participated in a series of workshops to learn about climate change mitigation and resilience measures they could adopt as individuals and as a community
Supported by a $25,000 grant from the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program in partnership with the Empowerment Institute’s Cool Blocks program
Discover more projects in your region
Read Central Coast project profiles
Interested in bringing more projects to the Central Coast?
Apply! Your first stop to learn more is to explore programs.
Who is eligible?
A number of implemented California Climate Investments projects span multiple geographic boundaries (e.g., a transit bus line or large forestry project crossing county lines). While most projects can be tied to one project address, where it is not feasible to associate a project with a single region, district, or county, the same project data is included in each area that benefits from the investment. This method of attribution tends to increase the implemented project totals reported here. See the Project List for a more detailed explanation of the methodology the California Air Resources Board uses to evaluate projects that cross geographic boundaries.
About Us
California Climate Investments is a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment - particularly in disadvantaged and low-income communities.
Contact Us
1-800-757-2907 | info@caclimateinvestments.ca.gov | @CAClimateInvest