CA AB2577

Requires the Office of Planning and Research and Strategic Growth Council to identify vulnerable populations using geographic, socioeconomic, public health, social determinants of health, environmental, and climate exposure criteria.

Identifies vulnerable populations as those disproportionately affected by climate change-related exposures including extreme heat, wildfire, sea level rise, extreme precipitation, flooding, drought, and worsening air quality.

Includes populations with low socioeconomic status based on factors such as low income, high linguistic isolation, high unemployment, low homeownership, high rent burden, low educational attainment, or poor health outcomes.

Includes populations with limited ability to recover from climate change due to conditions such as limited transportation access, low proximity to green space, lack of tree canopy, limited access to healthy food, or high impervious surface cover.

Mandates a robust participatory process that engages members of disadvantaged communities and other populations at significant risk from climate change impacts, with input from the advisory council established under Section 71358.