New Report Calls for Bold, Implementable Reforms to Strengthen Los Angeles’ Wildfire Recovery and Preparedness

“Think Big and Act Boldly” outlines four actionable strategies to accelerate recovery from the Eaton and Palisades fires and reduce future wildfire risk

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Climate Resolve, in partnership with Resilient Cities Catalyst, today released Think Big and Act Boldly! Implementing Proven Solutions on Urban Fire, a breakthrough report offering concrete strategies on how philanthropy can speed recovery from the Eaton and Palisades Fires and prepare Los Angeles for the next disaster.

“Los Angeles' communities deserve a recovery from the fires that is coordinated and forward-looking," said Samuel Carter, Founding Principal of Resilient Cities Catalyst and an author of the report. “We can still address the regions' fragmentation, misaligned systems, and underinvestment in prevention with additional leadership from civil society and philanthropy.”

Developed over seven months of intensive research, community engagement, and expert consultation following the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires, the report synthesizes findings from fourteen post-fire studies and more than 465 recommendations into four priority actions designed to support policymakers, public agencies, and partners in moving from analysis to execution.

Four Policy-Relevant Recommendations

The report advances four strategies with clear relevance to legislative, regulatory, and administrative decision-making:

1. Establish Recovery Authorities
   Create geographically appropriate recovery authorities to streamline rebuilding, align agencies, reduce delays, and help displaced residents return home.
2. Create a Resilience Delta Fund
   Address the gap between minimum code rebuilding and wildfire-resilient construction.
3. Create a Los Angeles County Resilience District
   Establish a voter-approved resilience district with a dedicated revenue stream to fund wildfire, flood, heat, and seismic mitigation.
4. Fix Disaster Communications and Alert Systems
   Address failures in emergency alerts and interagency coordination exposed during the January fires.

The report was funded by a grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

“The question is not whether Los Angeles can afford to invest in resilience,” said Jonathan Parfrey, CEO of Climate Resolve and an author of the report. “It is whether it can afford not to.”

The full report is intended to support philanthropic deliberations and regional coordination efforts already underway at the city, county, and state levels. You may see the report at this webpage.

About the Authors

Climate Resolve. Founded in 2010, the Los Angeles-based Climate Resolve champions equitable climate solutions. In 2015, Climate Resolve helped establish a suite of laws (SB 246, SB 379 and AB 1482) that currently govern California’s approach to climate adaptation. In 2018, Climate Resolve published a groundbreaking study of the Woolsey Fire.

Resilient Cities Catalyst. Headquartered in New York City, Resilient Cities Catalyst (RCC) was founded in 2019 to drive catalytic change to help partners solve their most pressing challenges. We work towards a vision where cities ensure that all residents, in particular, the most vulnerable, are safer, healthier and thriving in the face of everyday stresses and are able to withstand and recover quickly after shocks.