UCLA Sustainability

Oral Histories of Environmental Illness Symposium, "Canary Knowledge: Chronic Fatigue, Chemical Sensitivities and the Limits of Medicine"
2023-11-17 09:30 - 2023-11-18 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | HYBRID: Hershey Hall Salon (158) and Online, 612 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
With the surge in numbers of “unrecovered” from the Co-V2 pandemic, the public’s interest has turned to disability and caregiver activism, ongoing remissions protocols, and patient-led research networks established by those living with chronic fatigue, multiple chemical sensitivity, tick-borne illnesses, and autoimmune conditions (e.g. HIV, lupus, Crohn’s). This conference bridges the immediate before and after of Co-V2’s effects on this growing population of the chronically ill, and often medically abandoned, to ask how they—like the proverbial canaries in the coal mine—have defined and laid the groundwork for disability justice, art, and activism.
This event is part of a three-year multi-campus research grant at the University of California focusing on “Abolition Medicine and Disability Justice: Mapping Inequity and Renewing the Social Project.”
Hybrid event. The event will be in-person and live-streamed on CSW|Streisand Center’s YouTube channel @UCLACSW.
In-person Waitlist Only. Virtual Spots Available.
REGISTER HERE

Free Food from the Dining Halls
2023-11-16 22:00, 2023-11-15 22:00, 2023-11-14 22:00, 2023-11-09 22:00, 2023-11-08 22:00, 2023-11-07 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.

Electrifying LA’s Cargo Handling: Progress & Opportunities
2023-11-16 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are well on their way toward electrification, but the road to zero emission is a long one.
Join us for a panel discussion webinar on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 1pm featuring expert panelists from the Port of Los Angeles, Southern California Edison, and Earthjustice. The panelists will share updates on the progress being made to transition to zero-emission cargo handling equipment at ports in L.A. County, as well as their recommendations for solutions that would accelerate deployment.
This conversation marks the publication of a new report by the UCLA Emmett Institute and UC Berkeley’s Center for Law Energy & the Environment. The report, tilted “A Heavy Lift: Policy Solutions to Accelerate Deployment of Zero-Emission Cargo Handling Equipment at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles and Beyond,” will be published in advance of the webinar on Tuesday, November 14.
Panelists:
Brian Bustamante, Senior Advisor, Government & Institutions · Southern California Edison
Jacob Goldberg, Environmental Specialist · Port of Los Angeles
Regina Hsu, Senior Attorney, California Regional Office, Earthjustice
Moderated by Emmett/Frankel Fellow Beth Kent
REGISTER HERE

E2 1 Hotels Fellowship: 2023 Fellow Showcase
2023-11-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Please join this webinar to meet E2’s 2023 1 Hotels Fellows and learn about their innovative projects to advance sustainability, environmental justice and a clean economy for all.
The E2 1Hotels Fellowship supports emerging leaders in developing and implementing projects that amplify the business and economic case for smart policies to address pressing environmental issues.
On this webinar, you’ll hear directly from our fellows and be able to ask questions about their projects that address a diverse set of issues ranging from access to clean energy careers, to electrification and agriculture.
REGISTER HERE

Cities on the Frontline: Humans and Habitats
2023-11-16 06:00 - 07:00 | Online
To create a healthy urban habitat, natural systems can play a pivotal role in climate adaptation but requires seamless integration and respect for natural systems to mitigate environmental risks and ensure human well-being.
Leon Kapetas, Lead for Climate Resilience, Programs, R-Cities; Tina Marano, Future Communities Lead – Americas GHD; Sander Klaasen, Senior Landscape Architect, City of Rotterdam, Netherlands; & Shilesh Hariharan, Madras Terrace, Chennai, India will explore the challenges and opportunities, perspective in past experiences, lessons learned, and what best practices that integrate natural systems into urban ecosystems can do for cities and communities.
REGISTER HERE

Building Performance vs. People Performance
2023-11-15 18:30 - 20:00 | UCLA Perloff Hall, DeCafe, 365 Portola Plaza, Room 1302, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
A look at the evolution of goals, strategies, and methods for making buildings more sustainable across the portfolio of projects spanning the career of Lance Collins, AIA, NOMA (MArch II ’99), an architect, urban planner, and sustainability specialist.
REGISTER HERE

Second annual H.E.A.T Happy Hour
2023-11-15 18:00 - 20:00 | HiDef Brewing, 1203 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA, 90015, United States
Enjoy an evening to connect with up-and-coming leaders from various fields (food and drink options available; no-host bar).
Take public transportation or bike share due to the closure of the 10 Freeway. HiDef Brewing is accessible via the Metro A and E lines at the Pico Station. A Metro bike share station is located on 12th and Hill Street. Paid lots and metered street parking are also available.
The featured speakers for the night will be Director of Resilience and Organizational Strategy, Natalie Hernandez, and Climate Planning and Resilience Coordinator, Lia Cohen. Natalie and Lia will be speaking on all things resilience and the latest projects they’ve been leading at Climate Resolve.
REGISTER HERE

Young Professionals in Energy: Panel Discussion - Building Electrification
2023-11-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Wedbush Center, 1000 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, CA, 90017, United States
Join YPE for an exciting event on November 15 at the Wedbush Center in Los Angeles, CA, USA. A panel of experts will be discussing how we reduce carbon emissions from the building sector and the barriers and opportunities along the way.
Come connect with industry experts, network with like-minded individuals, and gain valuable insights. This in-person event promises to be informative and inspiring. Mark your calendars and come be part of the clean energy revolution!
REGISTER HERE

Oceanic Studies Book Forum
2023-11-15 12:00 - 13:30 | HYBRID: UCLA James West Alumni Center, Founders Room and Online, 325 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
The legacy of settler colonialism in Oceania, specifically Guåhan (Guam) and Hawai‘i, is a complex history that binds the two distinct archipelagos together. Join authors Alfred Flores and Christen Sasaki, and moderator Gena Carpio, as they explore these multifaceted connections through the scope of settler military occupation, imperial jurisdiction, and cultural transformation.
REGISTER HERE

The State of Climate Action in 2023
2023-11-15 07:00 - 08:30 | Online
On November 15, join Systems Change Lab for a high-level discussion of the recent state of climate action, in partnership with the Bezos Earth Fund, Climate Action Tracker, Climate Analytics and NewClimate Institute, ClimateWorks Foundation, the United Nations Climate Change High-Level Champions and World Resources Institute.
This virtual event will feature the report’s latest findings, highlighting both signals of positive change and instances of lackluster progress that continue to fall far short of global climate goals. Tune in to hear discussions from climate leaders about the key actions needed to accelerate transformational change this decade and ask panelists your most pressing questions about the state of climate action ahead of COP28.
REGISTER HERE

The Need to GROW Film Screening and Panel Discussion
2023-11-11 14:00 - 16:30 | Santa Monica Main Library – Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium, 601 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA, 90401, United States
Presented by the City of Santa Monica and Sustainable Works
About the Film
A Story of Solutions
In a race against the end of farmable soil, three individuals fight for change in the industry of agricultural food production, calling for a revolution.
The Need to GROW delivers alarming evidence on the importance of healthy soil — revealing not only the potential of localized food production working with nature, but our opportunity as individuals to help regenerate our planet’s dying soils and participate in the restoration of the Earth.
Live Panel Discussion
A panel discussion of experts will follow the film.
REGISTER HERE

Hollywood Housing & Climate Happy Hour
2023-11-09 18:00 - 20:30 | St Felix Hollywood, 1602 N Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90028, United States
Join Urban Environmentalists in Hollywood for a climate and housing happy hour! You’ll get to connect with fellow pro-housing, transit, racial justice, environmental, and urbanism activists from across LA. There will be a featured guest to discuss transit-oriented housing development in Hollywood – stay tuned to learn more!
REGISTER HERE

Preparing for COP28 - Webinar: “Key Issues to Watch at COP28”
2023-11-09 16:00 - 17:30 | Online
Join Second Nature, the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3), and the Research and Independent Non-Governmental Organizations (RINGO) constituency to discuss key issues on the negotiation agenda.
A recording will be available shortly after the live presentation.
REGISTER HERE

“My Home Sank Quietly”: Tuvalu, Maps, Documentary Film, and Climate Change
2023-11-09 13:00 - 14:30 | Charles E. Young Research Library, Main Conference Room 11360, 280 Charles E Young Dr N, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Join for a screening of the 2017 short experimental documentary “.TV” followed by a group discussion to discuss the small South Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, its web domain .tv, and climate change. Some guiding questions for our discussion include:

What does it mean to map a nation whose borders are constantly shifting and shrinking due to climate change?
How can we use maps to support climate justice efforts?
What does the global prioritization of digital spaces over combatting the loss of entire physical nations to climate change mean for our future?
How does the medium of information impact how we think about climate change? What differs between written text, maps, and documentary film?
How do we battle climate change despair?

There will be English language subtitles for the screening.
REGISTER HERE

Responding to the Climate Crisis in Times of Uncertainty: A Clarion Call for Climate Leadership
2023-11-09 05:30 - 06:30 | Online
Join the Allied for Climate Transformation by 2025 (ACT2025) consortium for a high-level webinar, where policymakers and advocates will set clear expectations for a positive outcome at COP28 that meets the needs of climate-vulnerable countries. During the event speakers representing voices and expertise from all over the world will show where action is possible and underscore why a renewed sense of commitment to the Paris Agreement is needed to drive breakthrough solutions across the $100 billion finance commitment, the global goal on adaptation, loss and damage funding arrangements, the new global goal on finance, equitably phasing out fossil fuels and more.
REGISTER HERE

2023 Delta Murphy Lecture
2023-11-08 17:30 - 19:30 | USC Davidson Conference Center, Vineyard Room, 3409 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA, 90007, United States
Join this deep dive into storytelling as a way to communicate and inspire action on issues related to the environment and climate.
REGISTER HERE

What to watch for, and ignore, at the UN Climate Talks in Dubai
2023-11-08 12:15 - 13:30 | Online
At the end of November, climate scientists, negotiators, policymakers, and lobbyists will converge in Dubai as the United Arab Emirates hosts the latest United Nations-sponsored climate talks. The climate talks, known by the acronym COP28, come at a crucial time in the effort to reduce planet-warming emissions.
A delegation from the UCLA Emmett Institute will also be in Dubai to participate in events and engage in dialogue with environmental law colleagues from around the world.
Join four of our faculty experts, including several who will be on the ground in Dubai, for a panel discussion that previews the top challenges and opportunities for international negotiation, including fossil fuel phase-out, methane regulation, and the risks of climate overshoot. The conference has already faced criticism thanks to the host country’s status as a major oil producer. We’ll hear how that dynamic could affect the outcome of the talks.
Mary Nichols, Distinguished Counsel
Ted Parson, Faculty Director
Alex Wang, Faculty Co-Director
Moderated by Cara Horowitz, Executive Director
This event is on Zoom.
REGISTER HERE

4th Annual NorCal Symposium on Climate and Health
2023-11-08 12:00 - 17:00 | Online
Climate change presents a critical challenge to medical education, as future medical professionals will be tasked with treating patients and managing healthcare systems in a constantly changing world. Join to discover how leaders in the field are incorporating climate change education at their institutions.
Agenda
Session 1: Trainee Movements: Bringing climate action to medical education
Session 2: How to include equity in climate and health education and garner institutional support
Session 3: Keynote: Our Children’s Trust
Session 4: Empowering Tomorrow: Cutting edge climate change and health education
Session 5: Leadership Panel: Stanford, UCD, & UCSF
REGISTER HERE

Embracing Diversity Series: Representation in the Outdoors
2023-11-08 11:30 - 12:30 | Marion Anderson Hall Grand Salon, 110 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
UCLA Anderson Outdoor Adventure Club (OAC) is thrilled to invite you to the next event in our Embracing Diversity Series: Representation in the Outdoors!
This event will feature a panel of incredible community leaders: Jude Glenn and Sarina Pizzala from Queer Mountaineers, Christian La Mont from Latino Outdoors (“Yo Cuento” Initiative), and Jorge Vallecillos from Escalemos (Rock Climbing Collective) and will be moderated by our VP of EDI, Natalia Rodriguez Muxica (‘24).
We will explore the barriers that have historically prevented underrepresented groups from participating in outdoor activities and learn how these leaders and their organizations are working to increase outdoor accessibility for all.
REGISTER HERE

Webinar: What Is Sustainable Science, and How Can We Green Our Labs?
2023-11-08 11:00 - 12:00 | Online
The research and teaching conducted in university laboratories often has an outsized impact on a campus’ carbon footprint, due to the energy-intensive nature of lab air quality requirements, as well as the emissions associated with the building and operations. Water-intensive processes and hard-to-recycle wastes also challenge lab sustainability managers. To improve energy and water efficiency, decrease emissions, and reduce waste in labs, it’s essential to engage scientists in the green lab effort. The key is to empower students, researchers, building managers, purchasers, campus planners, and other leaders to support sustainable initiatives within their labs, buildings, and systemic change across the research enterprise.
During this webinar, attendees will learn how a green lab program can reduce resource use, emissions, and waste and promote sustainable science.
REGISTER HERE

GreenTech: Implementing the IRA and Accelerating the Energy Transition
2023-11-08 06:00 - 15:30 | HYBRID: Georgetown University Law Center and Online, 600 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20001, United States
$369 billion is set to be invested in the transition to a clean energy economy via the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and reaching net zero will require innovative legal and policy frameworks. Join the Georgetown Climate Center, the Environmental Law Institute, and the Georgetown Environmental Law and Policy Program for this day-long conference including keynote talks, engaging Q&A’s, plenary panels, and topic-specific breakout sessions.
In-person and virtual options are available.
REGISTRATION

Register to attend IN PERSON.

Registrants will attend at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC (600 New Jersey Ave NW).
Capacity is limited, so register early to confirm your seat.
Registration will close on NOVEMBER 1 or when capacity is reached, whichever comes first.

Register to attend via LIVE WEBINAR.

Webinar information will be emailed prior to the event date.
Please register by NOVEMBER 1. Registration will close after that date.

Impact Investing Speaker Series: Approaches to Monitoring & Reporting on ESG
2023-11-07 17:00 - 18:00 | B313 Gold Hall, Anderson School of Management, 110 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Interest in environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing has grown significantly over recent years, with global ESG fund assets having reached approximately $2.5 trillion as of the end of 2022, according to Morningstar. Shannon O’Leary, chief investment officer at the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation, will discuss:
– The tools and platforms that exist to support the monitoring of and reporting on ESG portfolios, as well as their limitations
– Approaches investors take to monitoring and reporting on ESG in public vs. private markets as well as across asset classes
– What has resulted from her organization’s work investing in this way
Moderated by Lisa Richter, Co-Founder and Manager, Avivar Capital
Food will be provided.
REGISTER HERE

Unveiling Company Progress on Water Stewardship
2023-11-07 08:00 - 09:00 | Online
The global water crisis—the result of decades of mismanagement, population growth, and climate change—is getting worse, and so are the financial risks facing companies. It’s clear: corporate water management approaches must adapt to the changing state of water resources. The new Valuing Water Finance Initiative benchmark assesses where 72 companies from four water-intensive industries—food, beverage, apparel, and high-tech—are on this journey to protect their bottom lines and help ensure a water-sustainable future for all by 2030.
In this webinar, participants will:
– Review key takeaways from the benchmark demonstrating how the 72 focus companies are performing against six Corporate Expectations for Valuing Water
– Discuss how leading practices can be an opportunity for all companies to elevate their efforts to reduce water risk
– Explore the significance of the benchmark as a unique and comprehensive tool for both investors and companies working to raise their ambition to protect freshwater resources
Featuring:
Kirsten James, Senior Program Director, Water, Ceres
Shama Perveen, PhD, Director, Water, Research, Ceres
Additional speakers to be announced
REGISTER HERE

Exploring Your Universe 2023
2023-11-05 12:00 - 20:00 | UCLA Court of Sciences, 617 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Exploring Your Universe (EYU) is an all-ages science festival at the UCLA Court of Sciences and the largest science outreach event at UCLA. We will be hosting science booths and science talks with subjects ranging from astronomy, biology, geology, chemistry, sustainability, psychology, and more! All activities are interactive experiences led by experts and scientists and geared for all ages (K-12+) and backgrounds.
Last year’s booths included hands-on experiments such as strawberry DNA extraction, looking at muscle cells under a microscope, and exhibits such as the Meteorite Gallery and more. Talks will include Fun with Plastics, When Earth was a magma ocean, Why does Earth’s magnetic field point north? and more!
REGISTER HERE

Fall 2023 Conference: "Architecture After the Green New Deal"
2023-11-03 09:00 - 2023-11-04 13:00 | Perloff Hall, 1317 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
UCLA Architecture and Urban Design (AUD) is pleased to convene the Fall 2023 “Architecture After the Green New Deal” conference, taking place in Perloff Hall Decafe on Friday, November 3 (9 am to 4 pm) and Saturday, November 4, 2023 (10 am to 1 pm).
Please register in advance for the conference. You may reach out to the event organizers, AUD’s Shota Vashakmadze (svashakmadze@ucla.edu) and Dexter Walcott (dwalcott@ucla.edu), with any questions or requests.
This two-day event is part of the ongoing research initiative “Architecture After the Green New Deal,” exploring climate change and the built environment. The effort aims to build upon AUD’s existing interest and enthusiasm for these issues, and to develop critical aspects of the strategic plan formulated by the School of the Arts and Architecture, as well as UCLA’s wider strategic planning, in response to the climate crisis.
The “Architecture After the Green New Deal” conference will include workshops for students and faculty as well as structured opportunities to engage with urgent questions. The two-day event will take place in Perloff DeCafe and in Perloff Courtyard, and will be live-streamed for remote viewing.
REGISTER HERE
