California Air Resources Board

Principal Investigator/Author(s): Karen Chapple

Contractor: University of California, Berkeley

Contract Number: 24IT-STC005

Project Status: Completed April 2026

Relevant CARB Programs: Zero Emission Space and Water Heater Standards, Building Decarbonization, Environmental Justice

Topic Areas: State Implementation Plans (SIPs), Research & Sustainable Communities, Climate Change, Building Decarbonization

Research Summary:

California is investing in sustainable communities and building decarbonization to address climate change. However, there are concerns that these investments may lead to unintended displacement of low-income residents. As CARB works to promote sustainable communities and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it is important to understand how public policies may inadvertently affect low-income displacement and how to mitigate it. To ensure that these investments benefit communities while preventing these unintended consequences, this study reviewed nineteen anti-displacement policies. These policies were reviewed and categorized into three unique categories, including production, preservation, and tenant protection strategies.

This study will inform the development of the zero-emission space and water heater standards through two main objectives:

1. Updating the 2020 anti-displacement white paper. Drawing on a review of more than 200 articles in the academic and gray literature for 2020 onwards, as well as interviews with 6 departmental and nongovernmental organization practitioners and academics, the project team analyzes and summarizes the literature on anti-displacement strategies.

2. Developing a statewide anti-displacement policy map highlighting county-level policies. This mapping tool allows users to see which tenant protections are in place in their counties, and which counties may require additional protection.

Keywords: Zero-emission space and water heaters, building decarbonization, climate change, Scoping Plan, housing policies, sustainable communities and health, climate actions

Related Work:

• Mapping tool for statewide anti-displacement policies