Inland Southern California Climate Collaborative (ISC3), a regional collaboration serving San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial Counties, aims to support local environmental organizations and leaders.

The Collaborative was launched in 2019 through CivicWell which designated the Los Angeles-based organization Climate Resolve as the fiscal sponsor. Climate Resolve took on the groundwork of recruitment and building a collaborative with a goal of transferring leadership to an in-region agency. In 2022 the ISC3 Steering Committee was formed and ISC3 became a member of the Alliance of Regional Collaborative for Climate Adaptation (ARCCA).

University of California, Riverside School of Public Policy and Office of Sustainability became the new coordinators for ISC3 in the fall of 2023. The Collaborative sees its role as mobilizing its members around a shared vision and policy agenda that will catalyze action for climate change mitigation and adaptation throughout the region. ISC3 also plans to be a resource hub providing information on available funding, assistance and research.

ISC3 partnered with Climate Resolve to produce its first research report in 2022 noting that the region is expected to see daily maximum temperatures increase by 8-14 degrees and areas burned by wildfires increase by 60-75 percent by end of century. The Landscape Analysis Report for the Inland Southern California Region gives an overview of these climate impacts in the Inland Southern California region as well as the work being done by municipalities to adapt to the impacts. Additionally, the report compiles a list of current and state federal funding opportunities that could support these efforts.

“The needs are stark and for most people who live here, they know the summers are getting hotter, it’s harder to see the mountains sometimes and the air is getting worse,” Assistant Director at the Center for Social Innovation, Eric Calderon said. “We’re seeing more trucks, more development and less open spaces. It’s important to at least talk about it.”

Today, membership of ISC3 is comprised of cities, counties, public agencies, businesses and tribal agencies as well as community-based and nonprofit organizations. The Collaborative holds regular meetings that can be attended virtually as well as in person networking events. ISC3 members have attended panels, toured the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Facility, Arlington Desalter System, SCE Food Technology Center and gathered for a nature walk at the Robert Redford Conservancy.

“We have really great speakers and have time for members in the beginning to share their work and their successes. That kind of discussion creates a lot of a-ha moments and connections,” Calderon said. “As great as it is to be able to see people on Zoom however, a lot of the magic happens in person when you can connect one on one.”

ISC3 also provides opportunities for the public to get together, learn, share information and make connections. On April 10 from 11:00am-3:00pm the Collaborative will be hosting a celebration of the contributions of local Inland Empire BIPOC communities to the climate action movement. ISC3’s Culture & Climate Action Event will take place at the UCR Alumni & Visitors Center. The event is free and open to the public.

ISC3 invites leaders, organizations and businesses to become members and is always seeking new collaborations. In the future the ISC3 will be engaged in further research and will need assistance in gathering community voices across the diverse geography of a region where environmental challenges and solutions vary. The Collaborative also encourages regional organizations to reach out if they need a letter of support or technical assistance for a grant. ISC3 can also help match co-applicants for grant applications.

“We just want people to know that we are an open door,” Calderon said. “If you need help connecting, we’ll help you. We can help bridge that gap.”

 

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Rivers & Lands Conservancy connects our community to natural, wild, and open spaces of Southern California through land conservation, stewardship, and education.

 

Byline: Rebecca K. O’Connor is the co-executive director of Rivers & Lands Conservancy, is a California Arts Council individual artist fellow and is the author of several books on the natural world.