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Government
Globally, there are limited funding sources that help communities build capacity to respond to public health and on-the-ground impacts of climate change. Many existing climate resilience-focused funding sources lack flexibility, focus support on infrastructure and capital projects, and often do not allow for the allocation of funds to early phases of planning. Developing and implementing solutions will require joint action and collaboration across jurisdictions, agencies, and partners. Highlighting a need to increase funding for coastal resilience inclusive, science-based planning and piloting. There is an opportunity to pilot and implement public and private partnerships and blended funding mechanisms to support coastal resilience planning, projects at all scales, from local to national.
Coastal Quest works with counties and other levels of government to catalyze collaborative, regional multi-benefit resiliency solutions. We provide technical assistance and build capacity to support government and communities ensure climate resilience. We will roll up our sleeves and do the work needed for each community, whether that to convene a meeting, develop governance structures, survey priorities, act as a fiscal sponsor and regrant and/or contract to fill gaps and needs, or write the grant proposal.
Public-Private Partnership
In a world where many people are passionate about protecting the environment, and new, innovative ideas for environmental protections and solutions are a dime a dozen, it is critical to align interests, work, and funding across industries and organizations. Often local, state, regional, and federal governments lack expertise, resources, or funding to accomplish what they desire or are mandated to do by legislation and are expected to deliver by their citizens in a timely manner. It is in these situations that connecting government to the private sector and philanthropic organizations is critical. Coastal Quest considers these public-private partnerships an essential tool in realizing coastal resiliency projects in a time frame that is appropriate for mitigating coastal resource degradation and protecting coastal communities.
We are experienced in facilitating such public-private partnerships and leveraged funding from some of the largest philanthropic organizations in the country with public agency dollars, working with them to align interests, leverage funds, and create and implement sustainable environmental solutions.
US Coastal Alliance
In 2022, Coastal Quest will launch the US Coastal Alliance, a national hub for coastal solutions. The Alliance will bring together all stakeholders to create and leverage solutions for critical issues impacting the coast – like water quality, managed retreat, sustainable ports, and blue carbon. The Alliance will create and advance solutions through a national dialogue and collaborative platform for knowledge building and peer exchange, the development of forward-looking and inclusive policies and programs, demonstration of pilots, workforce development, and coalition building.
Communities
Coastal Quest works with community-based organizations and individuals to initiate self-defined coastal solutions that result in the increased use of decision-support tools, sharing of new approaches and models, conducting user-driven actionable research, identifying best practices, and providing the materials and training that best fit government and community needs and objectives. We support community organizations, especially priority communities with coastal resiliency support, leadership development, and capacity.
Coastal Quest offers fiscal sponsorship for organizations like Seafood and Gender Equality (SAGE) and a tribal advisory group for the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority. We provide support with fundraising and strategy to our projects and a cost-effective model.
Business
Innovative technologies and approaches to address climate and coastal issues – like nature-based solutions, blue carbon storage and sequestration, and green technologies such as water capture and reuse – hold great promise but require investment from the private sector to accelerate into durable and cost-effective solutions. Moreover, companies can create business advantage and value while accelerating climate action and helping to meet emissions goals.
Coastal Quest is eager to work with companies, in tandem with local communities, to develop solutions to achieve our collective goals. In our convening role, Coastal Quest can work to catalyze coastal solutions, leverage impact, and convene stakeholders to help business accelerate consistent and credible actions for climate and nature.
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CA State Parks
Government agencies are often complex and don’t have the capacity to keep up with new regulations and on-the-ground needs. Coastal Quest develops and implements local, county, regional programs on request from partners. Coastal Quest conducts capacity building in various regions, including with California State Parks, which manages 25 percent of California’s coast. Coastal Quest launched a pilot project with State Parks in the San Diego Coast District to ensure coastal facilities, recreation, cultural and natural resources are accessible and protected against climate change, specifically sea level rise.
Los Angeles and Ventura County
Los Angeles and Ventura County’s Santa Clara River runs over 100 miles from the mountains to the coast within an hour’s drive of 18 million people. Among many things, the river supports drinking water, critical habitat, top producing agriculture, and natural flood risk reduction. However, communities surrounding the river face a changing climate with devastating fires, including the 2017 Thomas Fire. To support and build local capacity, Coast Quest is partnering with communities and local agencies to reduce fire risk, better understand post-fire water quality, and increase climate resiliency for both people and nature. To-date, we have partnered with local fire safe councils to apply for fire prevention funds to support a regional wildfire collaborative that will help educate and reduce the risk of wildland fires. We are assisting stakeholders establish a governance structure to remove the fire-prone invasive weed, Arundo donax, resulting in local workforce development, increased water quality, more durable restoration sites, and increased fire resilience.