photo of estuary at Crissy Field at sunset

Sustainability and Resilience

We believe: The region should be environmentally just, carbon-neutral,
and resilient to climate change and earthquakes.

Our Goals

• Decarbonize buildings.

• Make the region resilient to sea level rise and other climate-driven natural disasters.

• Improve communities’ resilience to earthquakes.

transect of a bayshore neighborhood with ground water beneath the soil

SPUR Report

Look Out Below

Bay Area cities planning for sea level rise need to address another emerging hazard: groundwater rise. Our case study on East Palo Alto offers recommendations applicable to other vulnerable communities along the San Francisco Bay shore.
illustration of houses plugging into the electricity grid

SPUR Report

Closing the Electrification Affordability Gap

New Bay Area regulations are ushering in a transition from polluting gas furnaces and water heaters to zero-emissions electric heat pumps. SPUR’s action plan shows how to make this transition affordable for low-income households.
photo of Ocean Beach in San Francisco

Initiative

Ocean Beach Master Plan

San Francisco's Ocean Beach faces significant challenges. SPUR led a public process to develop a comprehensive vision to address sea level rise, protect infrastructure, restore coastal ecosystems, and improve public access.
historic photo of houses damaged in the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

Initiative

The Resilient City

We know that another major earthquake will strike San Francisco — we just don’t know when. SPUR's Resilient City Initiative recommends steps the city should take before, during, and after the next big quake.

Updates and Events


Finding a Site for a Power Plant

Urbanist Article
This article reviews the San Francisco Public Utility Commission's analysis of problems and opportunities with various potential sites for the City’s newly won power plants.

The Ecological Footprint of Energy

Urbanist Article
Energy policy in San Francisco must also minimize health impacts to residents, while not simply moving production out of the city to impact others.

The California Futures Network

Urbanist Article
In spite of its progressive nature, California faces greater challenges in achieving smart growth than many other states. This article explores why, and what a new network of good planning organizations can do about it.

City of Safety

Urbanist Article
Though decentralizing might be a understandable instinct after the terrorist attacks, Metcalf reminds us of the efficiency of density and importance of social interdependence that are only found in the city.