Our Purpose and Mission

4C is an organizing platform that bridges across sectors and scales to catalyze and advance equitable climate solutions throughout the Central Coast.

We believe that climate change is the greatest threat to humanity and all living beings, with economic and racial disparities exacerbating its impact on vulnerable communities. We must unite to address these shared challenges, recognizing that our diverse people, cultures, economies, and geography provide a unique strength. Effective solutions depend on partnership, collaboration, and transparency across organizations and communities. While urgency is critical, building trust and overcoming barriers at a collaborative pace is essential to creating lasting support systems and in the long run, the only viable solutions for society are just and equitable solutions.

The Central Coast faces interconnected challenges, including ecosystem degradation, economic inequality, and social divisions, all exacerbated by climate threats such as sea level rise, wildfires, drought, and decreasing water supply. These issues often cross existing boundaries, making regional collaboration essential. 4C addresses these challenges by uniting local governments, communities, nonprofits, businesses, academia, and tribes to advance climate solutions and build resilience. It serves as an information hub and capacity builder, tracking funding opportunities, offering training, and hosting convenings to connect stakeholders across the region. Through these efforts, 4C works to promote equitable access to climate solutions and advocates for the unique needs of the Central Coast.

Our Strategic Vision

4C’s core role is to center justice and equity as we convene and connect across sectors to advance climate solutions and build the resilience capacity of the Central Coast.

Our History

The Central Coast Climate Collaborative (4C) was established in 2016 as regional climate collaboratives were launching across California. For the first time, leaders from local governments, communities, non-profit organizations, business, academia, and Tribes across the Central Coast came together to explore ways to address the complex maze of emerging carbon-reduction and adaptation issues. Over the past five years, 4C has become an established membership organization. 4C has evolved its organizational, technological, and network capacity, while supporting regional initiatives such as local climate resilience projects and planning, academic research, launching of new climate collaboratives, and development of collaboration and networking tools.

Our Governance Structure

4C operates as a cooperative network of dues-paying members, a steering committee, and subcommittees, all working together to support climate mitigation and adaptation efforts across the Central Coast’s six-county region. Membership is open to any legal entity within this region. General meetings are held quarterly and are open to all members and the public, providing opportunities for input on the Strategic Vision and Implementation Plan.

The Collaborative is overseen by a management team, Farallon Strategies, which supports 4C’s operations and ensures effective implementation of its goals.

4C’s decision making and governance is determined by the Steering Committee. To join the Steering Committee, an entity must be nominated and approved by a majority vote of the general membership. The Steering Committee, composed of at least nine members, seeks diverse representation across regions, industries, and institutions. Roles include Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Officer, and Subcommittee Liaison. The committee meets bi-monthly, with decisions made by majority vote and meeting notes posted on the 4C website.

Subcommittees, formed by the Steering Committee to address specific topics, are open to all members, with no membership limit. Non-members may also participate occasionally for presentations or services.