Napa’s Climate Future Takes Center Stage at 2026 Summit

By Kathleen Reynolds

On March 26, Napa Climate NOW! and Napa Valley College will host the fourth annual Napa Climate Summit, a free community event spotlighting the investments and partnerships aimed at making Napa County more resilient in the decades ahead.

This year’s theme, “Resilient Napa,” reflects a growing recognition that climate adaptation is no longer a theoretical exercise—it’s an economic imperative. County Board of Supervisors Chair Amber Manfree will open the program and highlight the importance of being proactive in the face of increasing extreme weather events.

“Napa’s economy depends on a climate that is conducive to agriculture and tourism,” she says. “Napa County is proactively partnering with many organizations to reduce wildfire risk, prepare for future disasters, manage water resources sustainably, and plan ahead for sea‑level rise.”

Few regions feel the financial consequences of climate change as acutely as Napa. Wildfires threaten vineyards and hospitality businesses. Drought and shifting weather patterns complicate water management. The Summit’s agenda reflects this intersection of environmental and economic vulnerability, and the local efforts to get ahead of it.

One of the headline presentations comes from Joe Nordlinger, CEO of Napa Firewise, who will outline the Valley Stewards Initiative. The project is a rare public‑private collaboration that brings landowners, agencies, and investors together to reduce wildfire risk into measurable outcomes at a landscape scale. It’s the kind of model that climate economists point to as essential: shared risk, shared investment, shared benefit.

The Napa County Resource Conservation District (Napa RCD) will highlight two major initiatives reshaping the county’s natural infrastructure. The organization is restoring more than 170 acres of wetlands and floodplains in the Suscol and Huichica Creek watersheds, projects that buffer the region from flooding and sea‑level rise while expanding public access to open space. At the same time, Napa RCD is launching a Napa River Watershed Group, a collaborative forum for farmers, tribal partners, and residents to manage water resources and reduce wildfire threats, securing a resilient future for all residents.

“In Napa County, our local watersheds are the lifeblood of our community, providing 85% of our water,” says Lucas Patzek, Napa RCD’s Executive Director. “By restoring our creeks and managing our water collaboratively, we aren’t just preparing for climate change, we’re securing a resilient future for the next generation of Napa stewards.”

The Summit’s second panel turns to community‑based strategies and clean‑energy innovation. Pacific Gas and Electric, the Summit sponsor, will provide an update on its work to underground utility lines—an expensive but critical step in reducing wildfire ignition risk. Other presentations will explore the hydrogen‑powered Resiliency Center in Calistoga, the City of Napa’s plans to generate energy from solid waste, and regional efforts to build the skilled workforce needed to support a transition to renewable energy.

After the panels, attendees can connect with local organizations during a social hour featuring wines produced by Napa Valley College. Agencies involved in resiliency efforts will provide more information along with displays and fun giveaways.

2026 marks 11 years since Napa Climate NOW! first came together—a small group of residents who decided that waiting for someone else to solve global warming wasn’t an option. What began as a grassroots effort has evolved into a community-wide push to cut climate pollution and strengthen Napa’s resilience in the face of rising climate risks.

Beth Painter, Napa City Councilmember and member of the Napa Climate Summit planning committee, hopes the event empowers residents. “The speakers will present some leading‑edge actions for making us ‘Napa‑strong’ in the face of climate change,” she says. “Everyone in the community is invited to learn how you can help our broader community, as well as your home, to ensure a secure future.”

The 2026 Napa Climate Summit will be held at the Main Theater in the Performing Arts Center at Napa Valley College. Free parking and ample bicycle parking will be available. For more information, contact Chris Benz at christinabbenz@gmail.com or 707‑492‑0089.