Resilience Initiatives
Building the Foundation for a Resilient Future
California faces an era of increasingly complex and intersecting challenges — from climate change and megafires to public health emergencies and economic disruption — that are reshaping how Californians live, work, and thrive. At the same time, rapid advances in science, technology, and innovation are transforming nearly every sector of society, creating powerful opportunities to strengthen resilience, drive economic growth, and reinforce California’s global leadership in innovation — while also raising new risks related to equity, privacy, public safety, and security.
In response to these dynamics, CCST has expanded and evolved its work to ensure State decision-makers have timely access to independent, rigorous scientific and technical expertise. CCST’s Resilience Initiatives are designed to help policymakers anticipate, prepare for, and respond to disasters and long-term stresses in ways that strengthen California’s economic, societal, and environmental resilience, while supporting the state’s long-term competitiveness.
Media Information
Initiatives in Action
Disaster Resilience Initiative
CCST launched the Disaster Resilience Initiative (DRI) in 2021 to improve the flow of actionable, policy-relevant science and technology expertise to inform decisions across the disaster lifecycle. This initiative is generously supported by the State of California through a one-time funding allocation in the 2021–2022 State budget, which supports the transmission of information between science and technology experts and policymakers focused on the overlapping, intersecting, and compounding nature of disasters in California.
STAR Initiative
Building on this foundation, our Science and Technology to Advance a Resilient California (STAR) Initiative places science, technology, and innovation at the center of California’s resilience strategy. STAR continues the core focus of the Disaster Resilience Initiative on societal and environmental resilience, while adding a strengthened emphasis on economic resilience — recognizing that sustaining California’s economic competitiveness and leadership in technological innovation is essential to a resilient future. By integrating scientific and technical expertise into policy decisions shaping emerging technologies, innovation ecosystems, workforce development, and critical infrastructure, STAR advances a resilient California where communities, ecosystems, and the economy can adapt and thrive together.
Resilience Publications & Projects
We know science and technology must be essential components of our recovery from the pandemic and our preparation for future complex disasters.
Peter Cowhey
CCST Board Chair
CCST Annual Report
Bridging Science and Policy for a Stronger California
CCST’s 2024/25 Annual Report highlights a year of progress in bridging science and policy to help strengthen California’s resilient future. The past year underscored the importance of our mission. As California faced evolving challenges—from year-round wildfire threats to the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence—CCST provided trusted, nonpartisan scientific guidance to inform policy decisions.
Inside the report, you’ll find examples of how we’ve expanded our impact across critical areas:
- Deepening our Disaster Resilience Initiative to address interconnected climate challenges
- Launching the AI Policy Initiative to guide responsible innovation
- Advancing energy solutions, including hydrogen research
- Celebrating 15 years of our CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship
