UCLA Sustainability

The Role of Civil Society in Protecting China’s Environment
2024-04-19 12:15 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | UCLA School of Law, Room 1357, 385 Charles E Young Dr E, Los Angeles, 90095, United States
Scholars from around the world will converge on the UCLA School of Law to explore recent developments in Chinese environmental law and governance that are sure to have global ramifications. In concert with an all-day symposium, the Emmett Institute and others are also co-hosting a lunchtime talk on the role of civil society in protecting China’s environment.
The focus of global attention in recent years has been on China’s top-down, state-driven approach to environmental protection and “ecological civilization.” What role is there for China’s civil society groups these days? How do they approach their work? What are the opportunities and risks involved? Several of China’s leading environmental advocates will join to discuss this important topic. Lunch will be provided.
REGISTER HERE

Lessons in Climate Storytelling
2024-04-19 09:00 - 10:00 | Online
How can we tell stories that engage people on climate change in ways that other communications strategies do not? Join the Yale Center for Environmental Communication for a discussion moderated by Sara Peach, Editor-in-Chief of Yale Climate Connections, with Antonieta Cadiz, Deputy Executive Director of Climate Power en Acción, Dominique Browning, co-founder and Director of Moms Clean Air Force, and Dr. Francesca Polletta, sociology professor at UC Irvine and author of It Was Like a Fever: Storytelling and Protest Politics. They will explore how climate organizations are currently using storytelling in their work, the impacts of these stories, and lessons learned from other movements.
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Symposium: China & the Environment - Taking Stock of Domestic and Global Developments in Law & Governance
2024-04-19 08:30 - 17:30 | UCLA School of Law, Room 1314, 385 Charles E Young Dr E, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Chinese environmental law and governance has undergone dramatic change in recent decades. The UCLA Pacific Basin Law Journal (PBLJ) and the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment are organizing an all-day symposium to assess these developments and to examine their impacts within China and globally. Scholars and advocates from China, the United States, and elsewhere will bring a range of perspectives and experiences to the discussion and explore possible pathways forward.
REGISTER HERE

Free Food from the Dining Halls
2024-04-18 22:00, 2024-04-17 22:00 - 23:00, 2024-04-17 22:00, 2024-04-11 22:00, 2024-04-10 22:00 | Conference Room 1 in the Student Activities Center Basement, 220 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Get a plate of free hot dining hall food in the SAC basement. Please bring your own containers and utensils. Bruin Dine is operating Tuesdays, Wednesdays, AND Thursdays this quarter.

Human Transit, Book Talk by Jarrett Walker
2024-04-18 12:00 - 13:30 | Luskin School of Public Affairs, room 2355, UCLA
Join UCLA ITS to celebrate the revised edition of Jarrett Walker’s Human Transit, Revised Edition: How Clearer Thinking about Public Transit Can Enrich Our Communities and Our Lives. The new edition will deepen its explanations about the basic principles of public transit, informed by his work as a network planning consultant. New topics include the problem with specialization; the role of flexible or “demand response” services; how to know when to redesign your network; and responding to tech-industry claims that transit will soon be obsolete. Finally, he added a major new section exploring the idea of access to opportunity as a core measure of transit’s success.
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Botany Brown Bag Public Lecture - "Trees of Trees: Historical insights about trees in the Garden," with Dr. Felipe Zapata
2024-04-18 12:00 - 13:00 | UCLA Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden, La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Dr, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
Drop in for a new lunch and learn series. Enjoy a lunch break in the Garden and take home some new ideas about plants, people, and animals. RSVP not required; BYOL aka bring your own lunch!

Reflecting on the Past to Advance the Future: Celebrating a Decade of the Resnick Center for Food Law and Policy
2024-04-18 10:30 - 2024-04-19 17:30 | To be announced
Join the Resnick Center to celebrate its 10-year anniversary with a conference on the past, present, and future of the field of food law and policy.
On April 18, the Resnick Center and the Academy for Food Law and Policy (AFLP) will co-host a day of panel sessions on the history of and models in teaching the field of food law and policy, as well as a workshop for selected new works in food law and policy. This day is designed for those teaching or interested in teaching food law and policy, though all are welcome.
On April 19, the Resnick Center will hold panels on climate change and food; nutrition policy, labelling, and healthy living; and how systems thinking can impact food law and policy locally, nationally, and globally. The day will include reflections on the past decade of the Center and recognition for the generosity of its founder, the Resnick Family Foundation.
REGISTER HERE

AI LA Earth Summit 2024
2024-04-18 10:00 - 20:00 | UCLA South Bay, 30800 Palos Verdes Dr E, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, 90275, United States
​The annual AI LA Earth Summit is back for its landmark fifth year, illuminating the intersection of technology and sustainability while empowering participants with education, inspiration, and connectivity.
​The summit is a collaborative environment bringing together Los Angeles’ foremost sustainability advocates, tech innovators, startups, and enterprises, catalyzing a community-driven movement toward sustainable development. By emphasizing innovation, practical solutions, and strong partnerships, we aim to foster a culture of sustainability that drives impactful change across the city and beyond.
REGISTER HERE
​
Keynote Speaker
​Featuring Evan Rapoport from Google as our keynote speaker, you will learn how your choices and innovations can drive significant change, from battling climate change to enhancing biodiversity. This session will inspire you to reflect on your legacy and the positive impact you can create by merging technology with a deep commitment to our planet.
​Event Highlights
​Educate, Inspire, Connect: Through a series of panels, talks, and networking opportunities, attendees will gain valuable knowledge, find inspiration, and build connections with fellow change-makers in the AI and sustainability space.
​Panels & Lightning Talks: Topics will range from discussing innovations on land and in water to understanding the complexity of green investing and environmental media.
​Networking: Plentiful time for attendees to connect, share ideas, and discuss future sustainability projects. After the event, join us for a happy hour with local LA founders, investors, and climate experts.
​Panels & Talks
​Speakers include leading industry experts from Google, NASA JPL, Starburst, Hydrosat, Blue Bear Capital, Aegeon Asset Management, and more! Check back soon for the full list of speakers and programming.
​Venue
​The AI LA Earth Summit 2024 marks the inaugural event at UCLA’s newly-opened South Bay Campus, offering breathtaking views of Catalina Island and the Pacific Ocean.
​Earth Summit 2024 is hosted by ​AI LA, and supported by Starburst, EZ-AI, BioscienceLA, Justworks, Cooley and LAVA.

​About AI LA
​​AI LA Community, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that’s been building community around the responsible development and applications of AI since 2016. We host over 40 events a year, including AI on the Lot, Earth Summit, Life Summit, Responsible AI Symposium, and monthly community meetups across various sectors.
​About Starburst Aerospace
​Founded in 2012, Starburst Aerospace is an innovation catalyst in the global Aerospace and Defense (A&D) industry. Combining three complementary activities—startup accelerators, strategy consulting, and ventures—they help A&D stakeholders innovate, navigate, and invest in the dynamic ecosystem. Starburst has a portfolio of 140+ startups and has operated over 20 accelerator programs. Learn more about Starburst at www.starburst.aero.

Creating Impact: How To Carve Your Own Path In Environmentalism
2024-04-18 09:00 - 09:40 | Online
Royal Sayewitz brings a wealth of experience in sustainable agriculture and community empowerment to his role at Umaro Foods.
Previously, he made significant contributions at Grow NYC, where he developed programs to promote urban agriculture and support local farmers markets.
Prior to that, his time at Irving Farm New York provided insights into ethical sourcing and culinary craftsmanship. Through his diverse background, Royal champions sustainability and fosters connections within the food industry, driving positive change and empowering communities.
REGISTER HERE

Ajay Singh Chaudhary presents The Exhausted of the Earth
2024-04-17 16:00 - 18:00 | La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Climate change is not only about the exhaustion of the planet, it’s about the exhaustion of so many of us, our lives, our worlds, even our minds. So, what is to be done?
Join for a conversation with Ajay Singh Chaudhary and learn how he answers this question in his new book, The Exhausted of the Earth: Politics in a Burning World.
In The Exhausted of the Earth, Ajay Singh Chaudhary brings together both the science and the politics of climate change. He shows how a new politics particular to the climate catastrophe demands a bitter struggle between those attached to the power, wealth, and security of “business-as-usual” and all of us, those exhausted, in every sense of the word, by the status quo.
Replacing Promethean, romantic, and apocalyptic fairytales with a new story for every exhausted inhabitant of this exhausted world, The Exhausted of the Earth outlines the politics and the power needed to alter the course of our burning world far beyond, far better than, mere survival.
Ajay Singh Chaudhary is the founding and executive director of the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research and a member of the core faculty specializing in social and political theory. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University’s MESAAS department and Institute for Comparative Literature and Society, and an M.Sc. in Culture and Society from the London School of Economics. His research focuses on social and political theory, comparative philosophy, Frankfurt School critical theory, religion, political economy, media studies, and post-colonial studies. He has written for the Los Angeles Review of Books, Quartz, Social Text, Dialectical Anthropology, The Jewish Daily Forward, The Public Eye, Filmmaker Magazine, and 3quarksdaily, among other venues.
This event is hosted by the California Center for Sustainable Communities at UCLA.

REGISTER HERE

LOCATION
La Kretz Garden Pavillion
UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden
707 Tiverton Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90095

GUIDELINES
Admission is free and registration is not required for attendance.

TRANSIT AND PARKING
Public transportation: Big Blue Bus (Routes 2 and 17), Culver CityBus (Line 6), Metro
Ridehailing locations: Gateway Plaza, Luskin Conference Center
On-site parking available for $4-$15 (1 hour – daily max)

People vs. Plastic: How the UN Plastics Treaty Must Protect Our Health
2024-04-17 14:00 - 15:00 | Online
April is Earth Month, and many people around the world this year are focused on plastic pollution.
No matter who you are or where you live, your health is affected by plastics. During this webinar, speakers will discuss the impacts of plastics on human health and implications for the UN Plastics Treaty negotiations happening later this month.
REGISTER HERE

Highly Charged: Panel Discussion
2024-04-17 12:15 - 13:30 | UCLA Law School, Room 1447
Come hear a discussion about the opportunities and limitations to rate design as a tool to enhance equity in the state. Panelists include tenant, ratepayer, and environmental advocates, as well as a Senior Analyst at the California Public Utilities Commission and UCLA’s own energy law expert, Professor William Boyd.
REGISTER HERE
Lunch served on a first come, first served basis for those who RSVP by 04/14/24.

Deep Dive Webinar: What’s Next? Overcoming Barriers to the Clean Energy Transition
2024-04-17 11:00 - 12:00 | Online
After years of ambitious campaigns to set clean energy targets and pass enabling policies across the country, focus is now expanding to how and when these much-needed investments will take place. Transforming the power grid can be slow and complex, but it’s crucial that states are able to overcome transmission barriers on a shorter timescale.
Accelerating our clean energy investments calls for policy innovation in siting and permitting, advanced grid technologies, and reforming how utilities and other state actors approach energy efficiency. A panel of experts will discuss how states can overcome long standing barriers to the grid transition to ensure that their investments are as effective and timely as possible.
REGISTER HERE

Earth Month - Plant-Based Universities: The Power of Transformative Asks and Campaigning
2024-04-17 10:00 - 10:40 | Online
This session featuring Nathan McGovern of Plant Based Universities will provide an overview and deep dive into the power of students have been cultivating in driving positive sustainable change at universities across the UK and beyond!
REGISTER HERE

Sixth annual UCLA Luskin Summit - Transformative Action
2024-04-17 07:30 - 14:30 | UCLA Luskin Conference Center, 425 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
The sixth annual Luskin Summit will feature a keynote conversation with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the unveiling of the Luskin School’s annual poll about life in Los Angeles, plus six breakout discussions.
The event will take place on the UCLA campus.

REGISTER HERE

Agenda at a Glance

7:30 a.m. Check-in and Breakfast
8:15 a.m. Opening Remarks
8:30 a.m. Results of the Quality of Life Index

9:30 a.m. Breakout 1
Track: Climate Resilience
Cooling Strategies for an Active L.A. in a Warming World
Track: Elections and Governance
Understanding the Diversity of the Los Angeles Electorate
Track: Equity in Transportation
Advancing Universal Basic Mobility for those in need: L.A.’s Mobility Wallet Pilot

10:45 a.m. Breakout 2
Track: Climate Resilience
Transformative Climate Communities in the L.A. Region
Track: Elections and Governance
Los Angeles City Council Considers Major Changes
Track: Equity in Transportation
A Capital Improvement Program for Los Angeles

12:00 p.m. Conversation with Mayor Bass
Sponsored by Hilton Foundation

1:15 p.m. Networking Lunch

LA Metro Telephone Town Hall
2024-04-16 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
Join Metro CEO, Stephanie Wiggins, to start the conversation on how to develop next year’s budget. Discuss how you feel about last year’s challenges and successes.
REGISTER HERE

High Impact Tea with Noel Kinder, Former Chief Sustainability Officer, Nike
2024-04-16 16:30 - 18:30 | Marion Anderson Hall Grand Salon, 110 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
RSVP required
REGISTER HERE
Noel Kinder is a senior global operations executive with over 20 years of experience building, shaping, and transforming businesses. He has navigated Nike through periods of significant change holding transformational leadership roles across P&L, operations, sustainability, supply chain, and manufacturing.
In his role as Chief Sustainability Officer, Noel successfully drove the acceleration of Nike’s materials innovation strategy to align with sustainability ambitions and positioned the company as a leader in the corporate sustainability space through active government, NGO, academic, and media engagement. He built the organization from 75 to 300+ people at its peak and integrated sustainability leadership, processes, and programs into major functions across the organization. He also served as the external spokesperson for Nike’s leadership in sustainability with media, government, and non-governmental stakeholders.
Throughout his career, Noel has acted as a change architect, from growing Nike’s sustainability programs and positioning the company as a leader on a global stage, to transforming Nike’s labor and environmental operations footprint, impacting 550 contract factories across 42 countries, and over 1 million workers, to turning around Nike’s Vietnam operations and stabilizing the 50% production campus during a period of tremendous political and government unrest.
Noel is a gifted leader and communicator, recognized for his ability to shape culture and create followership among employees and stakeholders. Highly strategic, yet operationally minded, he is deeply respected both inside and outside of Nike.
Noel serves on Collab Fund’s Sustainability Advisory Board, the NYSE Sustainability Advisory Council, and the Global Fashion Summit Steering Committee, among others.

Livestream: 2024 Columbia Global Energy Summit
2024-04-16 05:30 - 13:30 | Online
The Columbia Global Energy Summit is hosted by the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA. This year’s day-long Summit will address myriad issues at the heart of today’s complex geopolitical, environmental and economic landscape, including the impact of climate change and the energy transition on geopolitics and security; the outlook for clean energy deployment in the face of growing policy support, as well as challenges such as interest rates, permitting reform and trade conflict; pathways to mobilize finance for clean energy in emerging and developing economies; energy justice imperatives; and the impact for energy and climate policy in key elections around the world in 2024.
Speakers from around the world, including current and former minister-level officials, CEOs of major companies, leaders from civil society, and experts from academia and think tanks will offer valuable global and regional perspectives on critical challenges facing the global energy and climate community.
The event will be streamed live for the general public.
REGISTER HERE

Sunset Picnic with Semel HCI
2024-04-15 16:00 - 19:30 | Sunset Canyon Recreation Center, 111 Easton Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1370, United States
HCI is hosting a Sunset Picnic on the Hill! Food will be provided by ASUCLA Catering: subs, fruit platters, Caesar salads, chicken skewers, spanakopita, and wraps. Feel free to bring your own blankets and additional snacks, and join for relaxing crafts, convos, and live music!
Make sure to save the date and invite your friends to join Semel HCI, SEARCH, and SWC for this event!

A Conversation With Our City Attorney
2024-04-14 18:30 - 19:30 | Online
Join the Neighborhood Council Sustainability Alliance for a conversation with Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto.
REGISTER HERE

The Pando Sustainability Awards
2024-04-14 14:00 - 17:00 | Caltech Dabney Hall Lounge and Gardens, 1200 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA, 91125, United States
Meet the ingenious innovators behind community-based projects developed by instructors and students implementing Southland sustainability goals.
Help honor the season winners of Pando’s programs for higher ed and middle school. See the inaugural unveiling of new work from Pando’s street-smart team. And move the best ideas forward.
Hosted at Caltech, The Pando Sustainability Awards showcases project-based work developed over the 2023-24 school year through the Pando Days (higher ed), Magenta House (middle school), and Camp Pando (non-traditional learners) programs.
Sixteen sustainabiity projects from Southland colleges and universities and nearly 20 projects from LA middle schools will be represented. With cash prizes. And awards. And Special Guest presentations.
Ed Bacon is Awards moderator. Special Guest presentations by Betty Yee, Vice-Chair of the California Democratic Party; Gregory Boyle, SJ, founder of Homeboy Industries; Rita Kampalath, LA County Chief Sustainability Officer, and more
Expect networking galore!
Caltech Dabney Lounge and Gardens, Pasadena
April 14, 2024, 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Because of your dedication to sustainability in Los Angeles, you’re invited.
But seating is limited.
So, reserve yours now!
REGISTER HERE

Broxton Nights: Earth Day Festival
2024-04-13 17:00 - 21:00 | Westwood Village Broxton Ave, 1031 Broxton Avenue , CA 90024, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, United States
Broxton Nights is a monthly Night Market in the heart of Westwood Village that’s fun for all ages!
Come together to honor our planet and embrace sustainability in style! Prepare for an immersive shopping experience as The Pop-Up Shoppes takes over Broxton Nights with a curated selection of 40 eco-conscious small businesses.
REGISTER HERE

Elevated Eco-Conscious Brands: Immerse yourself in a world of eco-friendly innovation as we showcase a diverse array of LA-based brands committed to making a positive impact on the environment. Indulge in guilt-free shopping from fashion to lifestyle products and discover the latest in sustainable living!
Free Clothing Swap: Embrace the spirit of reuse and reduce your carbon footprint by participating in our free clothing swap. Refresh your wardrobe sustainably by exchanging ten pre-loved garments with fellow fashion enthusiasts. One person’s gently worn treasure could be your new favorite find!
Craft Bites & Brews: Enjoy exquisite craft bites from some of our favorite participating local chefs and stop by Broxton Brewery for libations on the patio!
Succulent Crafts: Get your hands dirty with Splatterz Studio succulent crafts station. Paint your own globe pottery vessel and choose your succulents to take home! For the kiddos, we’ll have a slime bar, facepainting and craft stations to unleash your inner creativity!
Raffle Giveaways: Feeling lucky? Enter our raffle for a chance to win exciting prizes generously donated by our eco-conscious vendors and local businesses. Every purchase made will give you more chances to win! From eco-friendly products to local services, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
Live Music and Entertainment: Groove to the beats of live DJ sets and music performances by local bands as you mingle with fellow Earth Day enthusiasts.

This Broxton Nights Earth Day Festival is more than just an event—it’s a movement towards a greener, more sustainable future. Free Admission!

Artist Talk and Q + A
2024-04-11 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Join the Art|Sci Center in learning about Yolande Harris’ artistic research conducted with Dr. Ari Friedlaender of UCSC. Harris incorporates underwater field recordings of whale vibrations, and realizes her work in glass, bronze, and multi-media forms. She will exhibit in our forthcoming exhibition, Atmosphere of Sound: Sonic Art in Times of Climate Disruption, scheduled to open in September of 2024 in partnership with the 2024 Getty PST initiative.
RSVP FOR LIVESTREAM HERE

Global Impact: Climate Change and Our Health
2024-04-11 12:45 - 13:45 | Online
Join this part of Kaiser Permanente’s Health Action Summit. Expert panelists will explore the connections between severe weather incidents and healthcare obstacles, discover opportunities for enhanced collaboration between industry and government, and discuss addressing disparities emerging from the intersection of climate change and healthcare.
REGISTER HERE

Temperature Check with Jane Fonda and L.A. climate communicators
2024-04-11 12:00 - 14:30 | Wallis Annenberg Hall (ANN), Forum, 3630 Watt Way, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, United States
Join the Center for Climate Journalism and Communication to hear some of the most powerful voices in climate gather to discuss key environmental issues in L.A. and beyond.
Noon–1 p.m.
Climate activist and actor Jane Fonda in conversation with Dean Willow Bay
1:30–2:30 p.m.
A conversation with L.A. climate communicators — Sammy Roth, L.A. times climate columnist, Caleigh Wells, KCRW’s healthy communities reporter and Allison Agsten, director of the USC Center for Climate Journalism and Communication — moderated by L.A. Times reporter Faith Pinho.
Seating in the ANN Forum is limited and not guaranteed.
REGISTER HERE

Meet & Greet with Sara Eve Fuentes, new Chairwoman of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability
2024-04-11 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
This live meet and greet, followed by a Q&A session, offers an unparalleled opportunity to get acquainted with Sara, her vision, and her aspirations for the future of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability (WCS).
After an inspiring journey of over a decade with WCS, starting from a volunteer to ascending the ranks to Vice Chairwoman, and now stepping into the role of Chairwoman, Sara brings a wealth of experience, passion, and a proven track record of leadership in sustainability and cleantech. As the Founder and President of Smart Waste, and the co-host of the Trash Magic! podcast, Sara’s dedication to the circular economy and waste management technologies has positioned her as a leading voice in the industry.
In her new role, Sara aims to continue WCS’s mission of achieving gender parity, fostering a diverse and inclusive network, engaging with local communities, and strengthening thought leadership within the cleantech and sustainability sectors. With a focus on expanding WCS’s influence and outreach, especially to under-represented communities, Sara is committed to empowering women and advocating for impactful change in our industries.
This event marks the beginning of a new chapter for WCS under Sara’s leadership, as it bids a heartfelt thank you to Lisa Ann Pinkerton, the founder of WCS, who will now serve as Vice Chairwoman. Lisa’s vision and dedication have nurtured WCS into a vibrant community of over 13,000 members worldwide, and we are excited to see this legacy continue to grow and evolve.
Don’t miss this chance to engage directly with Sara Eve Fuentes, hear her inspiring journey, and learn more about her plans for Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. Whether you’re a long-standing member or new to the WCS community, this event promises to be a source of inspiration, empowerment, and insight into the future of cleantech and sustainability.
TICKETS:
WCS Member ticket: FREE
Non-Member ticket: $15
Are you a non-member student? Please reach out to us at info@womencleantechsustainability.org to receive a discount code!
Interested in membership? Please learn more and apply here!
REGISTER HERE
