Climate and Environment
Climate and environmental policy.
1 upcoming event · 17 stories · Aug 25, 2026 – Oct 29, 2026
Upcoming events
Stories
Thursday, October 29, 20261 story →
SF is already flooding on sunny days. El Niño could make it far worse
San Francisco has already seen flooding on dry days this fall, and the Standard reports that experts warn the real danger comes this winter, when El Niño storms, rising seas and the year's highest tides are expected to arrive at the same time.
Wednesday, October 28, 20261 story →
San Francisco Embarcadero Floods as Tides Peak 2 Feet Above Normal
Tides peaked at 2.1 feet above normal on Tuesday and seawater covered part of the Embarcadero, forcing the city to close a stretch of sidewalk and the bike lane near Pier 14, KQED reports. The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood advisory for low-lying areas around the Bay Area, and a Port of San Francisco spokesperson tied the high water to the coming El Niño.
Saturday, October 24, 20261 story →
San Francisco Declares Local Emergency in Preparation for Historic El Niño
Mayor Daniel Lurie declared a local emergency Friday to speed San Francisco's preparations for what forecasters say could be a record-breaking El Niño winter. The declaration lets city departments skip some contracting rules to buy flood barriers, pumps and generators, and lets the mayor move money between departments. The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center put the chance of a record El Niño through the end of the year at 83%.
Monday, October 19, 20261 story →
Impacts of New Tree Legislation Approved by Supes
An ordinance from District 4 Supervisor Alan Wong and Mayor Daniel Lurie lets smaller property developers pay a fee instead of planting or replacing trees, the Richmond Sunset News reports. The Board of Supervisors passed it 7-4 in early September.
Friday, October 16, 20261 story →
$5M Worth Of Stormwater Management Projects On Tap For Outer Mission
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency granted San Francisco $5 million for stormwater projects across five acres of the Outer Mission. The work includes planted curb extensions, rain garden plazas and an underground infiltration system meant to keep sewer overflows out of Islais Creek and the bay, and to calm traffic on nearby streets.
Monday, October 5, 20261 story →
Sunset Boulevard green space to switch to recycled water irrigation
San Francisco will connect irrigation for about 60 acres of green space along Sunset Boulevard to the city's recycled water system, a change the city expects to save roughly 40 million gallons of drinking water a year. Mayor Daniel Lurie, state Sen. Scott Wiener, Supervisor Alan Wong and Public Works director Carla Short announced the next phase of the work on Sept. 30. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved accepting up to $1 million in state funding for it on Sept. 22, and Lurie signed the resolution on Sept. 25.
Tuesday, September 15, 20261 story →
Muni is too broke to use more eco-friendly buses
The SFMTA board voted to seek a state exemption so Muni can buy diesel-hybrid buses instead of more expensive electric models, because of the agency's budget problems. Muni is facing a fiscal crisis.
Tuesday, September 8, 20261 story →
Sea lion possibly poisoned with domoic acid rescued in San Francisco
The Marine Mammal Center responded Monday to a sea lion on Crissy Field beach showing signs of domoic acid poisoning. The center said it has seen an increase this year in sea lion poisonings linked to the neurotoxin.
Thursday, September 3, 20261 story →
Muni Introducing New Buses With USB Charging Ports
SFMTA will put 112 new zero-emission buses into service starting in October, with free USB charging ports and digital-video side mirrors, according to the agency's board presentation. Deliveries will run in batches through January 2028.
Wednesday, September 2, 20262 stories →
‘Lurie vs. Lorax?’ San Francisco Tree Advocates Bring Planting Fight to City Hall
Supervisors were scheduled to vote Tuesday on street tree rule changes backed by Mayor Daniel Lurie and Supervisor Alan Wong. Environmental advocates say the ordinance would let developers pay instead of planting trees, and they warn the city is already losing tree canopy.
S.F. officials just voted to save a 25-year-old-tree. It may be one of the last times, they warn.
The San Francisco Board of Appeals voted to save a 25-year-old sycamore that city crews had planned to remove. Board members said it may be one of the last times residents can fight a planned street tree removal.
Sunday, August 30, 20261 story →
Newsom, Lawmakers Reach Last-Minute Deal on Wildfire Fallout
Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders reached a last-minute deal on wildfire liability rules, aiming to lower electricity rates and speed up payouts to fire survivors. The plan, from Sen. Josh Becker, would limit hedge fund profits from utility-caused fires and restrict bonuses for utility executives. It would also create a program to fast-track survivor claims.
Saturday, August 29, 20263 stories →
Crews Struggle to Contain Big Sur Fires With El Niño on the Horizon
Crews are still fighting the Timber and Plaskett fires near Big Sur, with the Timber Fire 21 percent contained after burning 23,343 acres. Rain Friday brought little relief, and forecasters warn of drying conditions and wind gusts near 40 mph. A red flag warning is in effect for the central coast.
Trump Administration Reportedly Considers Development of Private Road in Yosemite
The Trump administration is considering a land swap that would let Nevada developer Kingsbarn Realty Capital build a private access road through Yosemite National Park, according to KQED and NOTUS. The proposal revives an attempt that failed under the Bush and Obama administrations and lost in court. Kingsbarn bought the 83-acre plot in 2024 and pushed to reopen the issue.
Newsom’s Wildfire Gamble and Two Voting Court Cases
The Political Breakdown podcast looks at Governor Newsom's late-term push to address the wildfire crisis, with a midnight deadline for legislative action. It also discusses the California Supreme Court arguments over the seizure of ballots in Riverside County and the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to allow restrictions on mail-in voting.
Wednesday, August 26, 20261 story →
Former Navy Contractor to Pay $97 Million Settlement Over Hunters Point Shipyard Cleanup
Former Navy contractor Tetra Tech agreed to pay $97 million to resolve federal claims over its botched cleanup of the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. A federal judge approved the settlement, which sends $57 million to the Justice Department and $40 million to Superfund cleanup costs.
Tuesday, August 25, 20261 story →
Tetra Tech to pay $57M for falsifying Hunters Point Shipyard soil samples
Tetra Tech will pay $57 million after admitting in court that it falsified soil samples at the Hunters Point Shipyard. Two workers served prison time in the case.