Pacifica Faces Mounting Pressure to Address Rising Sea Levels

California coastal city must submit concrete plans to tackle climate threat by 2028

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The California coastal city of Pacifica is under pressure to prevent damage from rising sea levels, which a 2018 report predicted could rise between 6 and 10 feet by the end of the century. The city must file plans to address this issue by May 2028, but a recent proposal was rejected by the Coastal Commission due to a lack of robust strategies. Pacifica residents and officials are concerned about the threat, with one councilmember calling it "the single biggest challenge we have facing us."

Why it matters

Rising sea levels driven by climate change pose a serious threat to coastal communities like Pacifica, putting lives, homes, and infrastructure at risk. The city must develop effective plans to mitigate the damage, but doing so requires balancing the needs of current residents and future development.

The details

Pacifica, a seaside area south of San Francisco known for its beaches and surfing, is facing pressure to address the threat of rising sea levels. A 2018 report predicted sea levels could rise between 6 and 10 feet by the end of the century. In January 2026, the City Council shared a document, the Local Coastal Land Use Plan, to outline how to address sea level rise, but it was rejected by the Coastal Commission due to the lack of robust strategies.

  • In 2018, a report predicted sea levels would likely rise between 6 and 10 feet by the end of the century.
  • On January 26, 2026, the City Council shared a document to address sea level rise, but it was rejected by the Coastal Commission.
  • State law requires Pacifica to file concrete plans to tackle rising sea levels by May 2028.

The players

Pacifica

A California coastal city known for its beaches and surfing, facing the threat of rising sea levels.

Greg Wright

A Pacifica city councilmember who called rising sea levels "the single biggest challenge we have facing us."

Sam Casillas

The director of the Pacifica Land Trust, who asked the City Council for transparency on prioritizing current homes and infrastructure versus new development.

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What they’re saying

“This is probably the single biggest challenge we have facing us.”

— Greg Wright, Pacifica City Councilmember (Coastside News)

“Are we prioritizing current homes and infrastructure, or developers?”

— Sam Casillas, Director, Pacifica Land Trust (Coastside News)

What’s next

The city is aiming to submit its plan to address rising sea levels a year after engaging a consultant, ahead of the 2028 state deadline.

The takeaway

Pacifica's struggle to develop an effective plan to mitigate the threat of rising sea levels highlights the broader challenge coastal communities face in balancing the needs of current residents and future development in the face of the climate crisis. Addressing the root causes of carbon pollution through a shift to renewable energy could lessen the burden on cities like Pacifica.