UCLA Sustainability

Mindfulness in Nature Workshop
2023-10-05 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | UCLA Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden, La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Dr, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
Join a health and wellness workshop led by Diana Winston, one of America’s best-known mindfulness experts and the Director of Mindfulness Education at UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center. This event kicks off a year-long public learning series.
Learn about mindful garden appreciation and practice a walking meditation, then come back together to share experiences.
REGISTER HERE

2023 virtual California Student Leadership Summit
2023-10-06 - 2023-10-07 | Online
As students, how do we want to be heard? How do we make our voices count?
On October 6 and 7, join students from all around California at the 2023 Summit for Student Leaders! The opportunity is free and virtual, so students with an interest in leadership, no matter where they are joining us from in California, are invited to attend!
The goal of this 1.5-day online summit is to support the development and engagement of student leaders and to strengthen student voice’s impact on policy. The conference will feature key sessions on education policy, including safe school climates, environmental justice, education equity, demystifying changemaking and creating career pathways.
The program will also support stronger connections among students and deepen their ability to collectively make a difference in California together.
Children Now is hosting The Summit, in partnership with student-led groups and student-facing organizations, including Generation Up, Our Turn, Ed100, The Institute for Youth in Policy, California Association of Student Councils (CASC), and California Forward. The Summit is an evolution of Ed100’s Academy for Student Leaders.
REGISTER HERE

Climate Hazards and Vulnerabilities, and how we can assess and address them
2023-10-08 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Hear from the City of Los Angeles Emergency Management and Planning Departments about new climate-related efforts in the City, how these programs will work with each other, and the roles we can play as they develop.
These are: the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, the Climate Vulnerability Assessment, and the Environmental Justice Team.
You can learn more about the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan at emergency.lacity.gov/Local-Hazard-Plan.
The Climate Vulnerability Assessment is mentioned in this report to City Council.
REGISTER HERE

CLIMATE JOB FAIR - North America: Sales + Business roles in climate
2023-10-11 09:00 - 10:30 | Online
Drive your career in the climate fight by meeting companies from across industries hiring for roles in sales, business development, and more.
REGISTER HERE

LA Green Jobs - Virtual Career Fair
2023-10-11 14:30 - 16:00 | Online
Hello, green job seekers! Join the LA Green Jobs: Virtual Career Fair brought to you by USGBC-LA!
If you’re looking for an opportunity to speak directly with hiring managers in the sustainability industry for the built environment, this is a great opportunity for you.
REGISTER HERE

Understanding the Potential of Carbon-Negative Hydrogen
2023-10-12 08:00 - 09:00 | Online
The global climate crisis has reached a critical point, highlighted by the latest IPCC report, which underscores the vital role of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) in limiting temperature increases below 1.5°C. Following the release of their report earlier this year, The Potential Role of Biohydrogen in the Net-zero World: The Production and Applications of Carbon-Negative Hydrogen, there has been a notable surge in interest and momentum around carbon-negative hydrogen. This unique form of hydrogen combines fuel characteristics with CDR potential, offering a promising solution for industries facing decarbonization challenges, especially in hard-to-abate sectors like steel and chemicals, where it could enable zero-carbon or even carbon-negative production.
Join the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs as they convene an international panel of diverse stakeholders immersed in carbon-negative hydrogen initiatives. CGEP will facilitate an in-depth conversation regarding the potential and challenges associated with carbon-negative hydrogen as a transformative element within the global energy transition, including its production methodologies, carbon footprint, cost implications, practical applications, and the relevant policy landscape.
REGISTER HERE

Unleashing Clean Energy Systems
2023-10-12 08:00 - 10:00 | Online
Permitting has been a major obstacle in deploying renewable and storage technologies, but the federal government’s recent action changes that. Moreover, there’s now ample funding to transform our energy systems.
We must act fast to deploy clean technology and drive the clean energy transition in a manner that benefits every American.
CityAge, in partnership with Siemens and United for Infrastructure, are bringing together public and private leaders to discuss this vital topic and take advantage of this opportunity.
REGISTER HERE

Coffee Outside Social Bike Ride
2023-10-12 08:00 - 10:00 | UCLA Bike Shop & Outdoor Equipment Rental Center, 2131 John Wooden Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Traverse the tree-lined avenues on a refreshing morning bicycle ride that leaves from the UCLA Bike Shop. We’ll tour some of the infrastructure and amenities here at UCLA that integrate cycling into the daily routines of students and staff. The short inclusive ride culminates at an inviting outdoor spot where we’ll enjoy some coffee and socialize before going about our days. This ride’s a great way to meet people and a chance to reflect on the seamless blend of active transportation, environmental consciousness, and the simple joy of a morning ride with a well-deserved coffee break.
Participants must have a helmet and a bicycle, loaners are available from UCLA Bike Shop if you’d like to jump in and don’t have gear. Also – bonus points if you bring a friend and your own camp-coffee rig!
REGISTER HERE

Designing for Decarbonization (WEBCAST)
2023-10-12 09:00 - 13:00 | Online
Verdical Group is partnering with Southern California Edison (SCE) to present Designing for Decarbonization, a FREE, half-day, virtual workshop that will help attendees:

Understand the definitions of decarbonization, zero net energy (ZNE), and zero net carbon (ZNC) buildings
Learn from case studies of completed projects
Understand the design and construction process necessary to achieve high-performance buildings

You will learn about important market trends around energy efficiency, green building code requirements, proven and emerging technologies, operational best practices, and real-world case studies in the built environment, as well as be given resources and tools to set building owners, operators, and end users up for success. The workshop will provide tangible next steps for how we can all contribute and shift toward a decarbonized future.
The workshop will be presented by Verdical Group’s Rebecca Ramsdale (Director of Projects), Sara Motamedi (Director of Energy & Carbon), and Bobby Almeida (Director of Commissioning).
REGISTER HERE

After Hours in the Garden with Project Phoenix
2023-10-12 16:00 - 18:00 | UCLA Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden, La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Dr, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
Join Project Phoenix and the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden for a special edition of After Hours in the Garden.
Meet at the La Kretz Garden Pavillion to learn more about Project Phoenix, the Garden, and ways to get involved in community science. Enjoy light refreshments and a guided evening bird walk through the Garden.
REGISTER HERE

ClimateCAP MBA Academy: Settling Climate Accounts: The Road to Net Zero
2023-10-13 09:00 - 10:00 | Online
MBA Academy: Understanding the Business of Climate is a new virtual education series in which you can learn directly from business leaders, academic thought leaders and entrepreneurs about how to be an effective climate-conscious leader and navigate the new climate economy.
Through this series we will talk with experts on topics across the climate x business continuum to prepare the business leaders of tomorrow—today’s MBA students— to anticipate and manage climate risks and opportunities in their careers.
O﻿ur speaker is Alicia Seiger, who is a lecturer at Stanford Law School and leads sustainability and energy finance initiatives at Stanford Law, Graduate School of Business, and the Doerr School for Sustainability. Alicia will walk the audience through the importance and complexity of carbon accounting and make recommendations for the road ahead.
REGISTER HERE

Engineer Day 2023
2023-10-14 08:30 - 13:00 | Online
Hear from recent hires and program managers, learn about LA Sanitation & Environment’s hiring process, and gain an understanding of their vast network of exciting projects across the City of Los Angeles. This is a free virtual event. Registration closes at 11:59pm PST on Thursday, October 13.
REGISTER HERE
PLEASE REMEMBER TO USE YOUR SCHOOL-ISSUED EMAIL ADDRESS. THE ZOOM LINK WILL BE SENT 1-2 HOURS PRIOR TO THE START OF THE EVENT.

Seminar: Towards the Net-Negative Carbon Economy
2023-10-16 14:00 - 15:00 | USC Ralph and Goldy Lewis Hall (RGL) 308, 650 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, United States
It is with great pleasure the USC Center for Sustainability Solutions announces a special seminar with Professor Michael Obersteiner, Director of Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute. Professor Obersteiner is an internationally renowned scientist who has been a key researcher in global issues related to food, agriculture and climate change. Space is limited.
RVSP: email Jennifer Sosenko, sosenko@usc.edu.

Conference: Solutions for a Sustainable Future
2023-10-17 10:00 - 17:00 | University of Southern California, Town & Gown, 665 W Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, United States
Join leading global climate experts to hear about innovative, emerging solutions to address climate change. Learn about everything from promising technical advances, novel policy approaches to behavioral changes that offer hope for a more sustainable future.
Lunch will be served.
REGISTER HERE
Please contact Events Manager Geovanna Quiroz with any questions.

A Holistic Approach to Water Resilience
2023-10-17 13:00 - 14:15 | Online
This webinar will explore how water connects us all, and why it’s important to work holistically to secure a sustainable water future for California’s communities, agriculture, and wildlife.
Be sure to register and join for a panel on groundwater recharge and what this extraordinary weather year means for water in California. Join Sustainable Conservation as they sit down with water experts representing growers, scientists, and government to explore how multi-benefit recharge at scale is key for a healthy and resilient water future.
REGISTER HERE

Conserving Wildlife and Human Cultures
2023-10-17 13:00 - 14:30 | HYBRID: Charles E. Young Research Library, Main Conference Room 11360 and Zoom, 280 Charles E Young Dr N, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Speaker: Alejandra Echeverri Ochoa, PhD; Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, UC Berkeley
Halting the loss of biodiversity and cultural diversity necessitates an understanding of the connections between people and the planet. In her talk, Alejandra Echeverri will elucidate how individuals perceive endangered species, such as sea otters, and explore effective messaging strategies to foster greater care for wildlife. Additionally, she will delve into the profound cultural significance attributed to birds, while highlighting the impacts of deforestation and climate change on revered species.
Through a comprehensive policy analysis, Echeverri will demonstrate the current state of environmental policies and how they govern biodiversity. Lastly, she will demonstrate the promising role of the tourism sector in wildlife conservation and its contribution to preserving human cultures. Her talk will also show how community-engaged research with governments and local communities might lead to policy changes in the environmental sector.
This presentation will be conducted in person and via Zoom. RSVP is kindly requested.
Light refreshments will be served.
REGISTER HERE

Kanner Forum: Craig Santos Perez - "Pacific Islander Eco-Poetics"
2023-10-17 16:00 - 17:30 | Kaplan Hall 193, 415 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
In this presentation, Dr. Craig Santos Perez will discuss his in-progress monograph, Pacific Islander Eco-Poetics: Indigenous Knowledge, Environmental Justice, and Literary Activism, as well as his creative, editorial, and pedagogical work related to the Environmental Humanities in the Pacific.
The talk will be followed by a Q & A moderated by UCLA English Professor Ho’esta Mo’e’hahne.
This event is free and open to the public. A light reception will follow the event.
REGISTER HERE

Free Food from the Dining Halls
2023-10-17 22:00, 2023-10-18 22:00, 2023-10-19 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. We are operating Tuesdays, Wednesdays, AND Thursdays this quarter.

Seminar: The World in 2050: Transformation Toward a Sustainable Future for All
2023-10-18 14:00 - 15:00 | USC Ronald Tutor Campus Center (TCC) 227 – Rosen Family Screening Room, 3607 Trousdale Pkwy, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, United States
It is a great pleasure that the USC Center for Sustainability Solutions announces a special seminar with Professor Nebojsa Nakicenovic. Professor Nakicenovic is an internationally renowned scientist who has been a key participant in the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for many years. He is the lead author of the “Global Energy Assessment” and director of several reports on “The World in 2050.” His visionary work encompasses the development and analysis of scenarios for a sustainable future of our planet. Space is limited.
RVSP: email Jennifer Sosenko, sosenko@usc.edu.

USGBC-LA Thought Leadership Series: The Cost of Water
2023-10-19 16:00 - 18:00 | STUDIO-MLA, 251 South Mission Road, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, United States
The use of water costs us energy, and if it costs us energy that means carbon as well.
At this event, the host and presenters will:

Release the results of a study on the energy costs of moving water in and around the LA region.
Discuss the connections between energy, water, and carbon to better understand how we can be more efficient with our use of all three.
Unpack the policy and funding landscapes around the energy intensity of water use and how it relates to water reuse, water storage, and more.

In-person event will be livestreamed via Zoom.
REGISTER HERE

Blue Hour Art Exhibition
2023-10-20 12:00 - 2023-10-28 16:00 | AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, 2451 Signal St, Los Angeles, CA, 90731, United States
Join a mesmerizing art exhibition at AltaSea, open to the public!
Admission is FREE, so gather your friends and family to experience the beauty of art in a breathtaking setting. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or simply looking for some inspiration, this exhibition is not to be missed!
Explore a diverse range of artworks, from stunning paintings to intricate sculptures, and let your imagination soar.
Don’t forget to bring your cameras! Capture your favorite moments and share them using the hashtag #ArtAtAltaSea. Your photos might even be featured on social media channels!

Beyond Climate: How Nature Loss Undermines Peace and Security
2023-10-23 07:00 - 08:00 | Online
The loss of nature is a profound threat to human, national, and global security around the world—and interconnected with the worsening effects of climate change. However, unlike climate change, its impacts are not considered in security strategies and international frameworks. Ecological degradation and biodiversity loss cause the decline of essential ecosystem services that humans depend on for food, health, and economic survival. Nature loss can have further destabilizing effects on human security and lead to fragility, migration, and conflict. While climate change can play a role in nature loss, human activities such as land-use change, overexploitation of resources, pollution, and the introduction and spread of invasive species are the most significant drivers of ecosystem destruction.
The Center for American Progress, WWF Germany, and IISD are hosting a virtual panel discussion focused on the critical role of nature and conservation in maintaining global peace and security, called the nature-security nexus. Representing perspectives from the environmental and security communities, this conversation will seek to provide attendees with a foundation of knowledge for incorporating the impacts of nature loss into modern security doctrines.
REGISTER HERE

Artificial Intelligence for Energy: AI & Energy Technology Discovery
2023-10-23 09:00 - 10:00 | Online
Please join the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs for a series of discussions on how the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the energy sector can advance the discovery of new technologies, aid in the prediction of successful energy-related systems, and optimize operations.
The first AI forum will feature a global expert leading the development of AI for scientific discovery, including for energy.
This webinar will be hosted via Zoom. Advance registration is required. Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email with access details. The event will be recorded and the video recording will be added to the CGEP website following the event.
REGISTER HERE

Climate Action Palooza
2023-10-24 - 2023-10-26 | West Los Angeles College, 9000 Overland Avenue, Culver City, CA, 90230, United States
This is a 3-day Climate Action Palooza to empower, inspire, and get everyone excited about the many ways in which we all can support climate action, the decarbonization of economies, and environmental justice.
Day 1: October 24 | International Climate Day of Action | 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Opening ceremony features land acknowledgment and a performance by native dancers.
• The Climate Village will feature a live DJ, games, and a vegan food truck.
• Wawa Gatheru, the featured keynote speaker, will be joined by local youth leaders.
• Community building activities, workshops, and booths.
Free admission. REGISTER HERE
Day 2: October 25 | Games for Climate Hackathon | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
VIP tech judges Chacko Sonny, Gaming Division at Netflix, and award-winning YA author Dana Claire. Winning teams receive full funding for their game idea. Lunch will be provided. Free admission. REGISTER HERE
Day 3: October 26 | Climate Careers Conference | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Keynote speaker Dr. Robert Fofrich, UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellow, UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, addresses: Why do we need green and blue jobs? Policy leaders across a wide spectrum of industries will forecast the future job market in emerging green and blue-collar industries. Lunch will be provided.
Free admission. REGISTER HERE

Decarbonizing the Built Environment, 3-Part Series
2023-10-24 08:30 - 2023-10-26 11:30 | Online
As the urgency to address climate change and halt greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) continues to grow, designers have a responsibility to make smart design decisions to minimize their buildings’ GHG emissions. The steps to designing a carbon-smart building are two-fold: minimize embodied carbon and bring operational carbon to zero.
This 3-part course will look at the holistic carbon profile of the built environment and the cutting-edge tools, processes, and case studies that design teams can use to design carbon out of their projects.
REGISTER HERE

Envisioning Affordable Housing and Climate Architectures Across the Pacific
2023-10-24 14:00 - 16:00 | Taper Hall (THH), 309K, 3501 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, United States
Kelema Lee Moses, Assistant Professor, Urban Studies and Planning, University of California, San Diego
Discussant:
Ginger Nolan, Assistant Professor of Architecture, USC
Second only to California, Hawai‘i has the most expensive housing market in the United States. Real-estate developers in both states point to aging infrastructure, the scarcity of available land, and complicated zoning and permitting restrictions as contributors to a full-scale housing crisis. That crisis is marked by high costs, low inventory, homelessness, and adverse environmental impacts ranging from sea-level rise and coastal erosion to increased susceptibility to wildfire. Since the 1980s, in continued attempts to mitigate the crisis, the Hawai‘i state government has codified a set of housing technologies among Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) and locals, developing model villages of tiny homes and ‘ohana dwellings (a typology specific to Hawai‘i). This lecture explores how community stakeholders work in, around, and through the islands’ housing histories to envision an urban future that accounts for Hawai‘i’s racial and ethnic diversity, aging population, and multigenerational families. Engaging novel spatial and temporal epistemologies, architects, community organizations, and Kānaka artists offer possibilities for abundant urban futures that promise to transform the practice of architecture and planning in Hawai‘i pae ‘āina and beyond.
Kelema Lee Moses is Assistant Professor of Urban Studies and Planning at the University of California, San Diego.

Free Food from the Dining Halls - *FREE JIN RAMEN @ BRUIN DINE / Much with Ottogi*
2023-10-24 21:30 - 23:00 | 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. We are operating Tuesdays, Wednesdays, AND Thursdays this quarter.
Bruin Dine will be giving away 300 portions of ramen and rice dishes at food recovery; microwave + kettle will be provided .
Line-up starts at 9:30pm and doors open at 10pm (regular food recovery will run as usual).

Third annual "Climate Solutions Now" Conference
2023-10-25 08:00 - 2023-10-27 17:00 | Online
Learn about climate solutions being implemented in real time and the near future to get inspired, become educated, and find opportunities to get involved in this all-virtual 3-day event.
Talks run from 8-5 pm PT each day. There will be 6 plenary sessions from 8-9 and 1-2 pm PT each day, and the rest of the conference will feature talks from 11 tracks:
– Agriculture and Food Systems
– The Built Environment
– Business Sustainability
– Campus Sustainability
– Climate Communications
– Energy
– Environmental Justice
– Forest Carbon and Earth Observation
– Science and Education
– Transportation and Planning
– Water
The conference is open to everyone everywhere!
REGISTER HERE
