Climate action on campus in 2024 includes sustainable food systems, reduced water usage, and a phase-out of single-use plastics.
Like every University of California location, UCLA fights climate change on multiple fronts. This collective action to combat the crisis is happening through clean energy, plant-based meals, green buildings, water consumption reduction, and eliminating plastics — and that’s just the operational side. There are also ongoing efforts in education, research, and public service. Here are some of UCLA’s sustainable standouts from last year.
Direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions decreased due to reduced gas consumption and increased use of renewable electricity. UCLA also completed a decarbonization study to identify ways to phase out fossil fuels and switch to cleaner energy alternatives for the campus.
UCLA’s food service operations got healthier, with more sustainable and plant-based options. Campus buildings also got greener, with three new LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified additions in 2024, including the Nimoy Theater, an all-electric Gold-level classic movie house restoration.
There was significant progress in decreased total water use, considering the growth of the campus population with housing added for students. Continued water reclamation efforts and landscape transformations to native plants also had a positive impact, saving water.
UCLA reduced plastics in several areas. Single-use beverage bottles in dining facilities and vending machines were completely phased out, with continuing efforts to eliminate plastic bags and single-use foodware in dining facilities.
As the academic year wrapped up, several departments came together to host a sustainable move-out for student residents and commuter students living close to campus. Items such as furniture and houseware were collected and donated, which helped eliminate waste by keeping belongings out of landfills and reducing the environmental footprint of move-out. For a full look at University of California systemwide sustainability efforts and UCLA’s contributions, check out the 2024 Annual Report on Sustainable Practices.