Adaptation & Resilience

Storms &
Rainfall

Stormwater and Precipitation Management

As precipitation events become more frequent in Northern California, Stanford’s Stormwater Management Plan includes an extensive storm drainage system and comprehensive operations management extending from the foothills down to campus.

Stormwater Management Practices

Wildfire

Enhancing the University’s Wildfire Resilience

The Wildfire Resilience program protects Stanford’s community from the threat of wildfire through land stewardship, fire fuel reduction treatments, and partnering with community agencies to enhance regional wildfire resilience.

Wildfire Management Research Project

Extreme Heat

Increasing Cooling Capacity and Electrical Reliability

To minimize disruptions during heat waves and enhance infrastructure resiliency, the Central Energy Facility (CEF) expanded the cooling capacity of its chiller plant. When extreme weather strains cooling systems, the university is ready with staged chilled water curtailment plans.

Resilience in Our Energy System

Community
Resilience

Building Community Resilience

Community resilience requires community participation and action. The efforts of everyone are crucial to creating a more sustainable campus. Explore Sustainable Stanford tools to seek ways to get involved based on your campus role.

Find Your Role

Drought

Responding to Drought

During periods of drought, Stanford reduces potable water use by adjusting irrigation and landscaping and promoting behavior change programs. The university continues to reduce potable water use annually, even as the campus grows.

Learn About Our Drought Response

Biodiversity
Loss

Protecting Species and Biodiversity

The Stanford Conservation Program supports campus adaptation to climate change by protecting listed species, promoting local biodiversity, and maintaining ecosystem services across Stanford’s nearly 8,200 acres.

Natural & Built Environment Operations

Sea Level
Rise

Preparing for the Effects of Sea Level Rise

Active research, planning, and implementation of protection measures address the impacts of sea level rise on Hopkins Marine Station.

Sea Level Rise Adaptation Project

Stanford assesses our vulnerability to the risks of climate change, enabling us to plan and respond to the expected impacts of our planet’s changed climate. We are acting to reduce the experience of harm from anticipated climate events.

View Resilience Stories & Projects