LA’s Water Resource Future - Workshop 2: Understanding Local Groundwater Storage Potential
2016-06-15 09:00 - 16:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
This workshop is open to the public, but space is limited. To RSVP, contact Nikki Parrish, Program Administrator, UCLA Sustainable LA Grand Challenge.The goal of the LA’s Water Resource Future series is to bring togetherresearchers, water resource managers, and other stakeholders to investigate the
question: How much stormwater can Los Angeles County capture and store as
groundwater by 2050 and beyond, given climate change, water quality concerns,
ecosystem concerns, and economic and policy constraints? This discussion will inform the
implementation of the UCLA Sustainable LA Grand Challenge Work Plan by
identifying stakeholder information needs, research capabilities and gaps, and
opportunities for collaboration.
This workshop is the second in a two-part
series. The first, Understanding Local Stormwater Capture Potential, explored
recent stormwater capture planning efforts and the modeling tools used therein;
how to achieve integrated climate, surface hydrology, and groundwater modeling;
ecosystem considerations in stormwater capture; and policy barriers to
increased capture and potential solutions.
We are now undertaking a research effort to couple
existing stormwater capture and groundwater models to get a better grasp of the
quantities of captured stormwater that infiltrates to groundwater for projects
that don’t go into a spreading ground through a pipe.
This second workshop will focus on current
and future groundwater basin conditions, management, and rights in the
groundwater basins serving Los Angeles County. The aims are to better
understand:
How the basins were adjudicated, how they are
currently managed, how ownership rights have changed since adjudication, how
replenishment through spreading grounds is now financed, and the implications
for efforts to increase stormwater capture and infiltrationThe current state of knowledge of hydrogeology in the
region, how sea level rise due to climate change is expected to affect the
groundwater basins serving LA County, and the implications for efforts to
increase stormwater capture and infiltrationFrom groundwater managers’ and stormwater capture
agencies’ perspective, what the challenges are for incentivizing infiltration
of urban stormwater runoff, and what information is needed to value infiltrated
stormwater in groundwater PROGRAM
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM – Welcome and Opening Remarks
Casandra
Rauser, Director,
Sustainable LA Grand Challenge
Madelyn
Glickfeld, Director
UCLA Water Resources Group
9:15
AM – 10:30 AM – Session 1
Water
rights in adjudicated and unadjudicated basins in the Los Angeles County:
History, current status, implications for stormwater capture and storage, and
legal solutions
How were
the groundwater basins in Los Angeles County adjudicated? Who has
the right to store and extract groundwater in each basin in the region? How have
those rights changed over time? How does
this relate to the incredibly complex array of water entities who deliver water
in the LA Basin? Are
governance arrangements adequate for non–rights holders to obtain storage and
extraction rights for water captured through new stormwater projects? What legal
or administrative changes to adjudications or other institutional agreements
would need to happen to give value to stormwater replenishment projects?
Moderator: J.R. DeShazo, Professor and Director,
Luskin Center for Innovation
[20
minutes] Presentation by William
Blomquist, Indiana University
History of basin adjudication in Southern California
[20
minutes] Presentation by Stephanie
Pincetl, Professor and Director, UCLA California Center for Sustainable
Communities
The evolution of water rights holders in the adjudicated basins, discussion
of the implications of these rights for increased stormwater storage in these
areas.
[20
minutes] Alf Brandt, Senior Counsel,
Office of CA State Assembly Speaker Rendon
Increasing incentives for stormwater capture and storage in adjudicated
basins.
[20
minutes] Eric L.
Garner, Partner
Best, Best and Kreiger
Increasing stormwater incentives for non–rights holders in adjudicated basins,
and in unadjudicated basins subject to SGMA:
What are the legal avenues for stormwater agencies and groundwater basin
managers to do this?
[15
minutes] Audience Q&A
BREAK: 10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
10:45 AM – 12:15 PM – Session 2
The current physical state and
management of LA County’s major groundwater basins:
How
much storage capacity do these groundwater basins have? How
much of this capacity is not currently used, representing extra storage
potential for captured stormwater? Where
does hydrogeology make increased infiltration/injection of stormwater to groundwater
basins feasible? Which
basins have pollution issues, and how is this accounted for in management of
the basin? What
are current arrangements for compensating entities supplying groundwater
replenishment including reclaimed and imported water?
Moderator,
Erik Porse, Post Doctoral Researcher
UCLA California Center for Sustainable Communities
[20
minutes] Ted Johnson, Hydrogeologist, Water Replenishment District of
Southern California, Central and West Coast Basins
[20
minutes] Richard Slade, Watermaster, Upper Los Angeles River Area
Basin (ULARA)
[20
minutes] Steven Johnson or Kevin Smead, Stetson Engineers, San Gabriel and Raymond Basin
[15 minutes] Greg
Reed, Water Resources, Los Angeles
Department of Water and Power will discuss the status of unadjudicated basins
in Los Angeles County under SGMA and who is involved in responded to SGMA for
those basins
[15
minutes] Audience Q&A
LUNCH:
12:15 PM – 1:30 PM
1:30 PM – 2:40 PM – Session 3
Climate change and the Potential
Impact of Sea Level Rise on Coastal Groundwater Basins:
Which
groundwater basins are vulnerable to sea level rise with climate change? Can we model
the extent of intrusion? Will the existing salt water intrusion barriers work
to stem the impacts of sea level on saltwater intrusion? Are new
saltwater intrusion barriers going to be needed or feasible?
Moderator,
Alex Hall, Professor and Director
UCLA Center for Climate Change Solutions
Current Management of the
Seawater Intrusion Barriers:
[15
minutes] Eric Batman, Los Angeles County Department
of Public Works
[15
minutes] Ted Johnson, Southern
California Water Replenishment District
Projecting the impact of sea
level rise on coastal groundwater basins:
[20
minutes] Tracy Nishikawa, USGS Water Science Center – How can we estimate
how projected sea level rise will affect the coastal groundwater basins and the
salt water intrusion barriers?
Audience
Q&A 15 minutes
BREAK: 2:40 – 2:55
2:55 PM – 4:15 PM Session 4:
Increasing
Conjunctive Use and Storage through More Stormwater Capture: Moderated Panel
and Audience Discussions
What
would make a coupled stormwater and groundwater model useful to you in
determining the water supply quantification of any given stormwater capture
project?How
can we improve the incentives for stormwater capture and storage in groundwater
basins? Could
storage and extraction rights be granted to those who do projects to infiltrate
water? Or, are there easier or better ways to do this? What
are the concerns about stormwater infiltration into groundwater? Is there a
maximum that can be infiltrated and a maximum that can be drawn out? What
are the legal and physical basin constraints to allowing additional stormwater
project infiltration to be extracted?
Moderator, Madelyn Glickfeld, Director, UCLA
Water Resources Group
Angela George, Los Angeles
County Flood Control District Richard Slade, Watermaster Upper Los Angeles River Area Basin Rafael Villegas, Los Angeles
Department of Water and Power Robb Whitaker, General Manager Water Replenishment District of
Southern California, Staff for Central and West Basin Watermaster Tony Zampiello, Watermaster, Raymond and Main San Gabriel Basin Debra Man (invited), Metropolitan Water District of Southern CaliforniaAlf Brandt, Senior
Counsel, Office of CA State Assembly Speaker RendonEric Garner, Partner
Best, Best and Kreiger
4:15 PM – 4:30 PM
Summary and Next Steps

2016 UCLA Conference to Advance Women in Tech
2016-08-12 08:00 - 15:00
REGISTER HEREConference ObjectivesThe UCLA Conference to Advance Women in Technology taking place at UCLA on August 12, 2016 will convene 250+ leaders and stakeholders for a collaborative conference reframing the discussion about the gender and diversity gap in the tech sector. The conference will explore ways to advance women of all races, backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses in the tech sector focusing on Leadership and Innovation, Diversity and Inclusion, and Economic Advancement. We welcome full participation by both women and men in order to work together on this issue.This one-day conference will include two concurrent tracks of breakout sessions:Track 1. Fostering Women as Tech Entrepreneurs and Employees in Startups and Small Tech FirmsThe panels and discussions in this track will explore government, private and nonprofit strategies to foster female entrepreneurship and small businesses. This will include a focus on funding as well as accelerators, startup, and resource initiatives.1.1 Navigating the Funding PipelineAccording to recent statistics, only 3-5% of venture funding is given to startups with female founders. However, VC-funded companies with at least one female founder perform 63% better than those with all male teams. This panel will address this gender gap by exploring different avenues to raising capital, providing strategies to help prepare for pitching to investors, and demystifying government funding and support programs.1.2 Success Factors for EntrepreneursAccording to an American Express survey, women are twice as likely as men to run a company with annual revenue lower than $500,000, and the average pay for a female business owner is $63,000 per year. Only 10% of the world’s billionaires are women. This panel will explore the strategies to help female and minority entrepreneurs not only survive, but thrive.Track 2. Attracting and Retaining Women in Medium and Large CompaniesThe panels in this track will discuss effective ways to create sustainable environments in which women and their employers prosper, focusing on the public policies, corporate policies and workforce culture issues that affect the attraction and retention of women in tech.2.1 Creating an Inclusive and Diverse Workplace CultureAccording to Code.org, computing jobs will more than double by 2020 to 1.4 million. However, women and minorities are leaving the tech industry altogether, citing problems with the corporate culture. This panel will explore effective strategies, policies and best practices that foster an inclusive work environment conducive to success for women and minorities in tech. 2.2 Negotiating Strategies: Addressing Gender Disparities in Pay, Promotion and FlexibilityAccording to the Institute for Women’s policy research, on average, women earn 79 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts. In addition, studies show that women are less likely to negotiate salaries or apply for career growth opportunities until they meet all defined qualifications. This panel will explore negotiation strategies and policies that address gender disparities in pay, promotion, career opportunities, and work flexibility.Intended ParticipantsThe Conference to Advance Women in Technology is a collaborative setting to promote best practices to advance equitable work environments that take advantage of their full human capital potential. We welcome women and men who want to be part of solutions to create tech workplaces that foster diversity, inclusion and innovation.This event brings together those most directly able to help female tech employees and entrepreneurs thrive. These include:Corporate leaders and employeesEntrepreneurs, startups and startup support institutions (incubators, accelerators, etc.)Non-profit leaders and advocatesAcademics, STEM educators, students and parentsPolicymakers and legislatorsJournalists and the mediaClick here for more information about the conference.

A Night at the LA River
2016-09-10 17:00 - 20:00
RSVP HERE

Luskin Open House
2016-09-22 18:00 - 20:00
UCLA Luskin hosts its annual open house for students, faculty and alumni.Food and beverages will be provided. Complimentary parking will be available for UCLA Luskin alumni with RSVP by Monday 9/19.Click here for more information and to register. Free to register before 9/19. $10 registration at the door.We hope to see you there!Connect with UCLA Luskin at the 2016 Open House5:30 pm Registration Begins 6:00 pm Open HousePlease help us welcome the incoming students from all departments and reconnect with faculty and alumni at a reception in the scenic Dickson Court North (just south of Perloff Hall).You can:Meet new UCLA Luskin students and alumniTrade ideas with faculty and research scholarsLearn about exciting developments at UCLA LuskinEnjoy the flavors of LA with a variety of food booths and stationsGet connected to opportunities, organizations, and events through UCLA LuskinFood and beverages will be provided. Complimentary parking will be available for UCLA Luskin alumni with RSVP by Monday 9/19.We hope to see you there!On-site parking available for $12 (Lot 3, Lot 2)Transit: Big Blue Bus, Culver City Bus, Metro*One registration per attendee. All duplicates will be deleted.WHENThursday, September 22, 2016 from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM (PDT) – Add to CalendarWHEREDickson Court North – 365 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095

Environmental Graduate Student Networking Event 2016
2016-10-11 17:00 - 19:00
All graduate students interested in environmental sustainability and energy are invited to a free, cross-campus networking reception.Learn about campus environmental organizations, student funding opportunities, jobs and internships, and other resources while you also meet your peers over hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. There is no dress code.*Registration is required. Register here.(Must have a valid UCLA ID. Graduate students/faculty/staff only)Agenda:5:00 Event begins with food, drinks, and networking5:30 Hear from the following UCLA entities that offer funding, job, fellowship, and other opportunities for graduate students: Luskin Center for Innovation Sustainable LA Grand Challenge Institute of the Environment and Sustainability Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment (invited) UCLA Sustainability Leaders in Sustainability Graduate Certificate Program GSA Sustainable Resource Center6:15 More time to socialize and connect7:00 Event ends

Luskin Innovators Speaker Series: Featuring Jon Christensen
2016-10-13 17:00 - 19:00
Environmental Bonds for Equitable Community BenefitsREGISTER HERE Walk-ins Welcome!Join renowned UCLA professor and journalist Jon Christensen todiscuss highlights from his new report “Environmental Bonds Should Equitably
Benefit All Communities: Looking Forward Based on an Analysis of Prop 84.” His
talk–with critical importance during this election season–will be followed by
a panel with other leaders:Panel:Alf Brandt, Senior
Counsel for Assembly Speaker Anthony RendonAlina Bokde, Executive Director, Los Angeles Neighborhood Land TrustAlfredo Gonzalez, Program Officer, Resources Legacy Fund (moderator)There will be refreshments and hors d’oeuvres.Synopsis of paper
“A systematic
analysis of spending under Proposition 84, the last major environmental bond
approved by California voters, which in 2006 authorized $5.4 billion to improve
parks, natural resource protection, and water quality, supply and safety. Most
of that money has been spent. And for the first time ever, we have good enough
data to ask some crucial questions.
Where was that funding spent? Who benefited? And
was the spending prioritized as voters expected? The report analyzed $2
billion spent on 2,174 projects in California communities and found decidedly
mixed results.”About the authorJon Christensen is an
adjunct assistant professor in the Institute of the Environment and
Sustainability, the Department of History, and the Center for Digital
Humanities at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is a
journalist-in-residence at the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability,
a founder of the Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies (LENS) in
the IoES, and a senior fellow in UCLA’s cityLAB. He is a partner and strategic
adviser atStamen Design, an interactive design studio specializing in mapping,
data visualization, and strategic communications. And he is a regular columnist
at LA Observed, a contributor to other newspapers and magazines, and a
commentator on radio and television.
Jon was executive director of the Bill Lane Center for the American West, an
interdisciplinary center for research, teaching, new media, and journalism at
Stanford University before coming to UCLA. He has been an environmental
journalist and science writer for more than 30 years. His work has appeared in The
New York Times, Nature, High Country News, and many other newspapers,
magazines, journals, and radio and television shows. Jon was a Knight
Journalism Fellow at Stanford in 2002-2003 and a Steinbeck Fellow at San Jose
State University in 2003-2004, before returning to Stanford to work on a Ph.D.
in environmental history and the history of science. He was editor of Boom:
A Journal of California, a quarterly magazine published by the University
of California Press, from 2013 to 2016.
He is currently finishing a book entitled Critical Habitat: A History of
Thinking with Things in Nature and is engaged in a multidisciplinary
digital environmental humanities research project on nature in cities. And he
was a co-coordinator of a Mellon Sawyer Seminar on “Environmental Humanities:
Emergence and Impacts” at UCLA, which resulted in A Companion to the
Environmental Humanities, an edited volume of essays forthcoming from
Routledge.

Earth Now: Earth 2050 Symposium
2016-10-19 18:00 - 2016-10-20 22:00
REGISTER HERE for this Luskin College Endowment Inaugural SymposiumFrom public policy to installation art, this event explores all facets of modern environmental challenges and highlights efforts to make lives and businesses more sustainable. The program includes talks from top experts, workshops, local and national nonprofit organizations, art, a student film contest—and much more. We will highlight UCLA campus-wide sustainability while showcasing the new Luskin Conference Center and honoring the generosity of Meyer and Renee Luskin.October 18 – Keynote AddressKathryn D. Sullivan will deliver the symposium’s keynote address at 6 p.m. Sullivan is Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans & Atmosphere, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)—and the first American woman to walk in space. Prior to her current appointment, Sullivan played a central role in directing Administration and NOAA priority work in the areas of weather and water services, climate science and services, integrated mapping services and Earth-observing capabilities. She also provided agency-wide direction with regard to satellites, space weather, water, and ocean observations and forecasts to best serve American communities and businesses.October 19 – Next Generation Policies for a Sustainable FutureVisions for a Sustainable Los Angeles in 2050: The Sustainable LA Grand Challenge has goals of 100% renewables, 100% local water, and enhanced ecosystem and human health by 2050. Esteemed architect and faculty member, Thom Mayne, Professor Eui-Sung Yi and The Now Institute have mapped out potential scenarios for Los Angeles County in 2050. A round table of city and county leaders will join Mayne in a discussion on potential visions for a sustainable future for Los Angeles. Panelists will discuss how a decarbonized transportation and energy network will enable a projected 11.5 million people to thrive in a hotter Los Angeles.U.S. Climate Regulation—Beyond First Steps: The U.S. will need to make aggressive reductions in its emissions to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and limit global warming. But while deep decarbonization is technically feasible, no one yet knows what mix of laws and policies it will take to achieve the required, long-term emission cuts. The Emmett Institute will host a discussion of the laws and policy tools needed to make progress on this issue, both in the mid- and long-term. Do existing tools like the Clean Air Act get us far enough? How do the trade-offs between market-based and regulatory policies change as the environmental goals grow more demanding and look further ahead? Can the states do much more, or is stronger federal action required? What role will international negotiations play in stimulating innovation? The discussion will feature:Congressman Ted Lieu (invited)David Roberts, energy and climate change writer, Vox Media, Inc.Dr. Jim Williams, Chief Scientist, Energy + Environmental Economics (E3)Ann E. Carlson, Shirley Shapiro Professor of Environmental Law, Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, UCLA School of LawEdward A. Parson, Dan and Rae Emmett Professor of Environmental Law, Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, UCLA School of LawPhilip S. Barnett, Managing Director, Schiliro Barnett LLCThe Future of Environmental Policy in CaliforniaCalifornia has long been at the forefront of environmental policy in the U.S. and globally. This includes pioneering leadership on climate action, sustainable energy, clean transportation, and land conservation. We are now at a turning point and have opportunities to set new goals and innovative strategies for the coming decades. This session, organized by the Luskin Center for Innovation, will feature prominent leaders who will provide their visions for a sustainable future, and discuss what specific policies and innovative strategies are needed to achieve these inspiring visions. This session will cut across agencies and domains to discuss common goals, visions, and actions that the public can be a part of to advance environmental health and sustainability in California for the long term. Speakers include:Senator Fran Pavley, co-author of the landmark Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006Mary Nichols, Chair of the California Air Resources BoardMary Luevano, Commissioner, California Coastal CommissionRobert Oglesby, Executive Director, California Energy CommissionRandall Winston, Executive Director, Strategic Growth CouncilJ.R. DeShazo, Director of the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation (Moderator)October 20 – Environmental Science, Narratives, Art and EducationEight Scientific Visions for a Sustainable Planet: Forget the old scary stories of planetary collapse—environmentalism today is about optimism and action. Join eight faculty from UCLA’s Institute for the Environment and Sustainability to explore their science-based visions for what a sustainable Earth could look like in 2050 and how to get there. We’re talking zero-carbon city-states, supercharged African scientific networks to fight climate change, and the Uber-ized transportation systems of the future. Maybe even a jetpack or two. Speakers include:Magali Delmas, Director – Center for Corporate Environmental PerformanceAlex Hall, Director – Center for Climate ScienceStephanie Pincetl, Director – California Center for Sustainable CommunitiesDeepak Rajagopal, Professor – IoESH. Bradley Shaffer, Director – La Kretz CenterThomas B. Smith, Director – Center for Tropical ResearchAradhna Tripati, Professor – IoESRobert Eagle Tripati, Professor – IoES Storiesfor a Changing Planet: LENS—the Laboratory for
Environmental Narrative Strategies—will have its public launch at the Earth
Now: Earth 2050 symposium. The program will include talks by novelist and
biodiversity expert Lydia
Millet, environmental photographer and writer Subhankar Banerjee,
and Outdoor
Afro founder and CEO Rue Mapp. The session will also feature panel
discussions with journalists and artists along with a dynamic showcase of UCLA
faculty and student projects that reflect LENS’s mission to conduct innovative
research on environmental narrative in diverse contexts; to train the next
generation of environmental thinkers, scientists, and leaders in multimedia
storytelling and strategic communications; and to collaborate with others to
enhance real-world environmental communications. LENS is also curating public
installations of immersive art projects at the conference site that address
timely environmental and ecological topics around campus, including Marina Zurkow’s hand-drawn,
software-driven animation Mesocosm (image
below), a collaboration between photographer Adam Nadel and UCLA anthropology
professor Jessica Cattelino on the cultural politics of water in the
Everglades, and Tree Lines, an exhibit on ancient bristlecones by
artist Valerie Cohen and writer Michael Cohen. LENS is also installing artworks
around campus during the conference in collaboration with the Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA (CAP
UCLA). Inspiring projections of images of LA as an “Animal Land” by artists
Kendra Sollars and Lauren Strohacker will occupy the outdoor walls of student
residences on The Hill, while the artists engage students in creating
their own art. And an original video artwork, Holoscenes/Anthropocene
1 , conceived
by performance artist Lars
Jans about climate change, sea-level rise, and our everyday lives
will be unveiled at an after-party co-sponsored by LENS and CAP UCLA at the
Fowler Museum at the end of the symposium. ScheduleTuesday, October 186:00pmKeynote address by Kathryn Sullivan: Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans & Atmosphere, NOAA Administrator (Centennial Hall) Wednesday, October 198:30am – 10:00amSustainable L.A. Grand Challenge: “Visions for a Sustainable L.A. in 2050” (Centennial Hall)9:00am – 6:30pmPoster Session (Legacy A&B)10:00am – 10:30amBreak10:30am – 12:30pmEmmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment: “U.S. Climate Regulation – Beyond First Steps” (Centennial Hall)12:30pm – 2:00pmBreak1:00pm – 1:30pmScience Communications Lecture (Randy Olson, Centennial Hall)2:00pm – 5:00pmScience Communications Training (Randy Olson) for pre-registered graduate students and faculty (Enlightenment)2:00pm – 5:00pmLuskin Center for Innovation: “The Future of Environmental Policy in California” (Centennial Hall)5:00pm – 6:30pmPoster Session Reception (Legacy A&B)Thursday, October 209:00am – 5:00pmScreening of winning high-school student environmental short-films; LENS artist’s videos (Laureate Room)9:00am – 5:00pmHigh-school student mentoring (Legacy A&B, Exploration, and UCLA Campus Sustainability tour)10:30am – 12:30pm Institute of the Environment and Sustainability (IoES): “Eight Scientific Visons for A Sustainable Planet” (Centennial Hall)12:30pm – 2:00pmBreak2:00pm – 5:15pmLaboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies (LENS): “Stories for a Changing Planet” (Centennial Hall)5:30pm – 6:30pmGreenShorts: screening of winning Los Angeles area high-school student environmental short-films and Awards Presentation (Centennial Hall)6:30pm – 7:30pm Closing reception (Centennial Terrace) 7:30pm – 10:00pm After-party and art exhibit at the Fowler Museum sponsored by LENS and CAP UCLA with music, dancing, food, and drink.

Luskin Innovators Speaker Series Double Feature: Benjamin Barber and Andrew Revkin
2016-10-25 18:00 - 21:00
6:00pm – 7:20pm Benjamin BarberDemocratic political theoristBenjamin Barber has written in books like Strong Democracy and Jihad
vs McWorld about the crisis in liberal democracy and the nation-state. In
recent years, he has focused on the extraordinary role cities are playing in
both local and global governance and in the revival of democracy. Coming from
his book If Mayors Ruled the World, the idea for a Global Parliament of
Mayors (GPM) has taken root. Last month in The Hague, the GPM was formally
inaugurated with 70 cities and 25 urban networks participating. The voice of
cities now has a global megaphone and a platform for common action, and offers
a powerful response to the paralysis of gridlock nation-states and national
political parties. 7:30pm – 8:50pm Andrew Revkin
Surviving the
Anthropocene – An insider’s view of the emergence of humanity’s planet-scale
power surge and the many prescriptions for avoiding calamity.
Through an odd set of circumstances, Andrew Revkin is both
one of the leading chroniclers of Earth’s human- dominated age and, as one of 35
members of the Anthropocene Working Group, one of those tasked with assessing
whether it deserves status as a geological epoch.

California Goes Green
2018-04-30 18:00 - 20:00 | UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, Room 2355 337 Charles E Young Dr E, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
REGISTRATION IS AT CAPACITY
Join the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation in welcoming Michael Peevey and Diane Wittenberg to discuss their book California Goes Green.
The evening event will include a reception, presentation, panel discussion, author Q&A, and book signing.
Featured speakers:
Michael Peevey, former president of the California Public Utilities Commission
Diane Wittenberg, former founding executive director of the Climate Registry and former executive director of the Plug-in Electric Vehicles Collaborative
Panelists:
Ann Carlson, UCLA Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment
J.R. DeShazo, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation (moderator);
Fran Pavley, Former CA State Senator;
Mark Pisano, USC Price School of Public Policy
ABOUT THE BOOK
California is leading the way on climate change policy, forging a path towards a low carbon future. In this debut policy book, authors Michael Peevey and Diane Wittenberg draw on their time overseeing state agencies to offer an inside perspective on the development of environmental regulations under both Democratic and Republican leadership. The book explores California’s unique experience with smog and resulting efforts to clean the air, solar energy subsidies, climate policies and “subnational” climate agreements as well as the broader impact the state’s regulations have because of the size of its economy.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Michael R. Peevey has played a pivotal role in California’s energy revolution providing dynamic leadership as a corporate officer in a Fortune 500 company, an entrepreneur and president of California’s most powerful energy regulatory agency, the California Public Utilities Commission. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics at the University of California, Berkeley, before starting his career as an economist in Washington, D.C. In 1973 he helped found the California Council of Environmental and Economic Balance (CCEEB), serving as president until 1984. Peevey then joined Southern California Edison Company, rising to president in 1990.
In 1995, he co-founded New Energy Ventures later sold to AES for $92 million. In 2001, Peevey became chief advisor to California, Governor Gray Davis. In 2002 Davis appointed him to the PUC and named him president. Peevey continued in that role until retiring at the end of 2014.
Diane O. Wittenberg is an influential leader in California environmental and energy policy. As the founding president of California Climate Action Registry, she led the development of the first-ever greenhouse gas accounting and inventory reporting standards and advocated their adoption by 41 U.S. states, the 12 Canadian provinces and six Mexican states. In 2011, Wittenberg became the first executive director of the PEV Collaborative, a public-private partnership to promote sales of electric vehicles in California.
Wittenberg started her career at Southern California Edison in 1985, rising to vice president of corporate communications for the electric utility and its holding company, Edison International (EIX). She also was president of a non-regulated EIX subsidiary, Edison EV and currently she is chair of the California State Parks and Recreation Commission appointed by Governor Jerry Brown.

17th Annual Mayoral Housing, Transportation and Jobs Summit
2018-10-05 08:00 - 14:30 | UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center, 425 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Confirmed Speakers:
The Honorable Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, State of California
The Honorable Scott Wiener, Senator, State of California
The Honorable David Chiu, Assemblymember, State of California
The Honorable Laura Friedman, Assemblymember, State of California
Brian C. Annis, Secretary, California State Transportation Agency
Vince Bertoni, Director of Planning, City of Los Angeles
Brad Cox, Senior Managing Director, Trammell Crow Company
Clyde Holland, Chairman & CEO, Holland Partner Group
Robin Hughes, President & CEO, Abode Communities
Judith Ibarra-Bianchetta, Vice President &Director of Client Services, Tetra Tech
Rob Miller, Chief Legal Officer, HyperloopTT
Dr. Gary Painter, Director, USC Sol Price Center for Social Innovation
Matt Petersen, President & CEO, LA Cleantech Incubator
Nancy Sutley, Chief Sustainability Officer, LADWP
Jacqueline Waggoner, Vice President & Southern California Market Leader, Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.
Nadine Watt, President, Watt Companies; Chair, LABC
Dr. Jonathan Woetzel, Director, McKinsey Global Institute

Our Shared Solar Future: Expanding Access Through Community Solar
2019-02-28 09:30 - 14:30
Join us in Long Beach for our fourth-annual Los Angeles Energy and Equity Policy Series event!
This February, GRID Alternatives is hosting “Our Shared Solar Future: Expanding Access through Community Solar.” In this half-day event, solar-energy advocates will dive into community solar as a powerful policy strategy to encourage clean energy equity. GRID, an Oakland-based nonprofit solar installer, has put together a panel of experts and advocates to review successful community solar case studies from around the country, discuss recent policy developments, and more! Whether you’re an expert or new to solar, this panel series will have something for you. Breakfast and lunch included.
Speakers include:

Martha Guzman Aceves, Commissioner, California Public Utilities Commission
Marta Tomic, Program Director, Vote Solar
Tom Figel, Policy & Regulatory Manager – Community Solar, GRID Alternatives
Ted Bardacke, Executive Director, Clean Power Alliance
Anthony Hernandez, Principal Manager, Energy Procurement & Management, Southern California Edison
Brandon Smithwood, Policy Director, Coalition for Community Solar Access
Michael Kadish, Executive Director, GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles

More will be announced. Tickets are $30 in advance by using code FRIENDOFGRID ($10 reduction).
Hope to see you there! Space is limited. Please RSVP today.

Drinking Water System Performance in LA County LAFCO Purview
2019-03-13 09:00 - 12:00 | Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 W Temple St Room 381 - B, Los Angeles, CA, 90012, United States
Presentation | More information

Designing Light-Duty Vehicle Incentives for Low- and Moderate-Income Households
2019-03-21 10:00 - 17:00 | California Environmental Protection Agency, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA, 95814, United States
Join the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and the California Air Resources Board for the upcoming Research Seminar, “Designing Light-Duty Vehicle Incentives for Low- and Moderate-Income Households”
Location: Sierra Hearing Room, Second Floor, Cal EPA Headquarters, 1001 “I” Street, Sacramento, CA
WEBCAST | More Information
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Transportation equity has become an increasingly important policy driver in California during the last few years, and Senate Bill 350 tasked the California Air Resources Board (CARB) with identifying barriers that low-income households face in accessing clean transportation. Understanding how low- and moderate-income California households make vehicle purchase and retirement decisions will inform CARB’s clean vehicle and mobility incentive programs that target these households. This study assessed the impact of new and used vehicle incentives to promote the retirement of functional, high-emitting vehicles and increase adoption of advanced clean vehicles by this population. Additionally, the study examined the vehicle holdings, vehicle purchase decision-making and financing, travel patterns, and barriers to vehicle access by households in the target population. A statewide, representative survey of 1,604 low- and moderate-income households forms the basis of this study.
Results indicate that low- and moderate-income Californians value their vehicles, as they have the same number of vehicles as the statewide average, which is two vehicles per household. Overall, slightly more low- and moderate-income households bought their last vehicle used versus new, 57% versus 43%, but those with annual incomes less than $25,000 were much more likely to have bought a used vehicle. The overall mean purchase price for the household’s main vehicle was almost $14,000, which is over half of their yearly income. The average vehicle reported by the survey respondents is about eleven years old with 88,832 miles per self-reported odometer reading, and with an average fuel efficiency of 23.5 miles per gallon.
Through analyzing the results of a vehicle choice experiment included in the survey, the research team found that offering vehicle rebates significantly increases the adoption of new and used advanced clean vehicles. Specifically, the adoption of conventional hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs), with purchase incentives of $2,500, $5,000, and $9,500 increased the hypothetical purchase rates by approximately 20%, 40%, and 60-80%, respectively across vehicle types compared to no incentive. In contrast, offering guaranteed loans had a small and uneven effect on the propensity to purchase these vehicles.
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Speakers Biography
J. R. DeShazo, Ph.D., directs the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and is the Chair of the Department of Public Policy in the Luskin School of Public Affairs, University of California, Los Angles. He holds joint appointments within UCLA’s Institute of Environment and Sustainability as well as the Urban Planning and Civil and Environmental Engineering Departments. Dr. DeShazo’s research has focused on the design and evaluation of climate and air pollution control policies, the electrification of the transportation sector, clean energy procurement and efficiency programs and the performance of community choice energy/aggregators. He has advised the US Department of Energy, California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, California Public Utilities Commission, California Energy Commission, the California Air Resources Board, and various utilities including the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Southern California Edison, and Sonoma County, among others. He holds a Ph.D. in Urban Planning with a concentration in economics from Harvard University, a master’s of science in Development Economics from Oxford University, St. Antony’s College where he was also a Rhodes Scholar, and a bachelor’s from the College of William and Mary.
Greg Pierce, Ph.D., is the Associate Director of Research at the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation. Greg also serves as a senior researcher at the Center, leading the Advanced Transportation, Environmental Equity and Sustainable Water initiatives. He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the UCLA Department of Urban Planning. Dr. Pierce’s research on transport and water as a basic resource/service provision and access for disadvantaged or marginalized populations takes place at three connected scales the state, the metropolitan and the household. Current and past sponsors of this work include the California Air Resources Board, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the Strategic Growth Council, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department, The Resources Legacy Fund, the UC Multicampus Research Initiative, the UC Institute of Transportation Studies and the UCLA Grand Challenge. He has published 25+ peer-reviewed journal articles. Greg received a Ph.D. in Urban Planning in 2015 and an M.A. in Urban Planning in 2011, both from UCLA.

13th Annual Sustainability Summit
2019-04-05 07:00 - 14:30 | The Getty Center 1200 Getty Center Dr Los Angeles, CA 90049, United States
This year’s Summit will focus on why climate resiliency is key to future economic growth, how California’s renewable energy market is growing far beyond its borders and how conservation and new technologies will affect the state’s water resources.
More details and registration link to come.

LUSKIN SUMMIT 2019: LIVABLE L.A.
2019-04-24 08:30 - 13:00 | UCLA Luskin Conference Center 425 Westwood Plaza Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
REGISTER HERE
This April, our School will mark its 25th anniversary with the inaugural convening of a research-informed, cross-sector conversation about the major issues facing the Los Angeles region.
The summit will focus not on problems but on solutions.
Session Topics

Preparing to Thrive in a Hotter Los Angeles
Why Access to Safe, Affordable Water Is Still a Challenge in Metro Los Angeles
Dealing with Disruption: From Public Transit to Public Mobility
Growing Inequality in Los Angeles – Jobs and Housing
Census 2020 and Its Impact on Los Angeles
Can Decarceration Make Los Angeles Safer?
Unveiling of the 2019 Los Angeles County Quality of Life Index

Featured Presenters

Elected officials, including several mayors of L.A.-area cities
Decision-makers in government and business
UCLA scholars
Civic leaders
Difference-makers in the nonprofit and philanthropic spheres

Agenda
Breakfast: 8:30 a.m.
Keynote Address: 9 a.m.
Breakout Discussions: 9:45 – 11:30 a.m.
Closing Plenary Session: 11:45 a.m.

SGC's Climate Change Research Program - Listening Session
2019-05-08 13:30 - 15:00 | UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, Room 2343, 337 Charles E Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Hosted by the Strategic Growth Council (SGC)
In collaboration with the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI)
RSVP Here
The SGC’s Climate Change Research Program staff will host Listening Sessions throughout the state, to learn from non-traditional research partners about how the SGC’s research investments can support climate research that engages and benefits communities in California.
On May 8, 2019, a Listening Session will take place at UCLA. LCI director J.R. DeShazo will give welcome remarks. LCI is part of two Round I Partnership Grants awarded through the SGC’s Climate Change Research Program. Read more about these initiatives here.
Potential workshop participants/research partners include:

Community-based organizations – including civic, community, and advocacy groups
Federal research agencies and departments
Local land use agencies, departments, and organizations
Local health agencies, departments, and organizations
Non-profit organizations – including conservation, environmental justice and natural resources
Open space landowners and recreation providers
Private sector businesses
Regional agencies – focused on transportation, resources, and infrastructure
Regional climate collaboratives
Tribes

In November 2019, SGC will release the Round 3 Solicitation for its Climate Change Research Program, describing Council priorities for directing $10 million in pending budget appropriations. During the meeting on May 8th, SGC staff will invite your input to inform how SGC can better address community priorities in this and other future rounds of the program. Specifically, staff will ask prospective research partners to discuss:

How the program’s emphasis on meaningful engagement and science to action supports or could better support the research questions that need to be addressed within their community,
How researchers can launch robust, diverse, and unique multi-stakeholder partnerships with organizations that can transform research into action, and
Tips and past experiences on how your organization has successfully partnered with members of the research community.

For information about the Climate Change Research program, visit http://sgc.ca.gov/programs/climate-research/
To review the SGC’s Research Investment Plan, go to http://sgc.ca.gov/programs/climate-research/docs/20181003-Approved-Research_Investment_Plan.pdf

The Four Worlds of Carbon Politics: A Talk with Michael L. Ross, UCLA Political Science
2019-05-22 12:00 - 13:00 | UCLA Bunche Hall, Room 10383, 315 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
RSVP HERE
ABOUT THE TALK:
Why have so few countries taken strong measures to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions? We develop a novel theory to explain variation in carbon policies across countries and over time, based on the sectoral composition of a country’s economy and its position in the global economy. It suggests that the fossil fuel needs of four economic sectors – manufacturing, services, agriculture, and minerals extraction – largely determine both a country’s policies on carbon emissions and the emissions themselves. As long as countries maintain the relative size of these sectors, their carbon policies and emissions trajectories remain stable; when the mix of sectors changes, their energy policies and carbon emissions also change. Our theory’s implications are grim: we should not expect countries to reform their carbon policies, or curtail their fossil fuel consumption, unless they undergo major economic restructuring. Empirically we validate the model by showing that a country’s sectoral composition is strongly associated with the best available measure of energy policies: gasoline taxes and subsidies in 157 countries from 2003 to 2015, drawn from an original dataset. This may help explain why countries have been so slow to curtail their greenhouse gas emissions, despite the catastrophic implications of climate change.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Michael L. Ross is Professor in the UCLA Department of Political Science and the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. He is also the Executive Director and co-founder of the Project on Resources and Governance. Ross has published widely on the political and economic problems of resource-rich countries, civil war, democracy, and gender rights. His most recent book, The Oil Curse: How Petroleum Wealth Shapes the Development of Nations was translated into Arabic, Russian, Portuguese and Japanese and was named an “Outstanding Academic Title”by Choice magazine. He is also a Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Global Development, and serves on the editorial boards for World Politics and Comparative Political Studies, the advisory boards of the Natural Resources Governance Institute and the Payne Institute and was previously a member of the US Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative’s Multi Stakeholder Group and the World Bank’s Extractive Industries Review.
This event is co-sponsored by the UCLA Burkle Center, the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and by the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation.
EVENT PARKING:
The closest parking is located in Parking Structure 3. For Pay-by-Plate Parking, park and then use a Pay Station to purchase parking. For a map and directions, click here.
Sponsor(s): Burkle Center for International Relations, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

Charting California's Course on the Environment from Brown to Newsom and Beyond
2019-06-06 09:00 - 17:00 | UCLA School of Law, Room 1347, 385 Charles E Young Dr. E, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
RSVP Here
Sponsored by the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation, Emmett Institute on Climate Change, and the Environment at UCLA School of Law
Over the period spanning Governor Brown’s four terms in office, California cemented its identity as a pioneer of forward-thinking environmental law. California’s stance on climate and energy policy has marked the state as a national, and even global, force. At home, however, California continues to face entrenched environmental issues: the use and movement of water, the development of fossil fuel resources, and a housing affordability struggle that raises deep questions about land use policy.
This symposium will explore California’s status and future as an environmental pioneer. Panelists will examine the successes and challenges faced during Governor Brown’s tenure in office, taking a close look at the complexities of the state’s environmental policy commitments and what they have meant for California, the nation, and the international community. With Governor Newsom now at the helm, we will also look at today’s environmental leadership opportunities: both to stay the course and to build upon it.
Confirmed speakers

Keynote speaker: Mary Nichols, Chair, California Air Resources Board
Ken Alex, Director, Project Climate, Berkeley Law
Ann Carlson, Shirley Shapiro Professor of Environmental Law and Faculty Co-Director, Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at UCLA School of Law
E. Joaquin Esquivel, Chair, State Water Resources Control Board
Yana Garcia, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs, CalEPA
Gladys Limón, Executive Director, California Environmental Justice Alliance
Liane Randolph, Commissioner, California Public Utilities Commission
Julia Stein, Supervising Attorney, Frank G. Wells Environmental Law Clinic and Project Director, Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at UCLA School of Law

AGENDA
9:00 – 9:30 a.m.
Breakfast and check-in
9:30 – 10:15 a.m.
Opening Remarks: Mary D. Nichols, Chair, California Air Resources Board
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.
Break
10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
Panel 1: Problems and Opportunities at Scale: Facing California’s Greatest Environmental Challenges
California attempted fixes to some of its most complex problems during Governor Brown’s time in office: the state’s perennial water woes, ongoing questions about environmental equity and justice, and, of course, climate change and energy questions. What progress have we made over the last two gubernatorial terms? Did some of those Goliaths get the better of us? This panel will consider the unique roads traveled to address some of the state’s highest profile issues, and successes and failures along the way. The panel will discuss lessons learned from efforts to tackle big, intractable statewide issue with numerous entrenched stakeholder interests, and will look forward to the future of these projects and policies during the Newsom administration.
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Lunch
12:45 – 2:00 p.m.
Panel 2: “We’ll launch our own damn satellite”: California As A National and Global Force
Establishing California as a globally-recognized proving ground for innovation means not only making ambitious policy at home, but also working with—and sometimes against—federal and international actors to advance those policy goals. This panel will examine California’s relationships with the federal government and international community over the course of Brown’s tenure and into the present day, with a particular focus on the state’s prominent role as a powerful subnational actor in advocating for climate policies. How much influence has California had, and can it continue to have, on environmental policy outside its borders? Panelists will look ahead to continued opportunities for California’s leadership in this area.
2:00 – 2:10 p.m.
Break
2:10 – 3:25 p.m.
Panel 3: Building on Jerry: Tackling Housing and Transportation
California’s long struggle to provide affordable housing for its residents came to a head during the last few years of Governor Brown’s term, and Governor Newsom has signaled that housing is a key priority for his administration. At the same time, California has committed itself to ever more ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, which cannot be met without meaningful changes in the transportation sector. But improving access to affordable, sustainable, equitable transportation remains a significant challenge. As California works to house its residents and combat climate change, questions about the compatibility of these two policy goals are being raised. This panel will explore the makings of the housing crisis and lessons learned from Governor Brown’s tenure and will consider how California can meet its considerable housing and transportation challenges moving forward, while continuing to make progress on climate and other environmental goals.
3:25 – 3:35 p.m.
Afternoon break
3:35 – 4:15 p.m.
Closing remarks
4:15 – 5:00 p.m.
Reception: Law Courtyard

Los Angeles County Sustainability Plan: Gearing Up Economic Opportunity and Jobs
2019-07-17 10:00 - 14:00 | University of Southern California, Doheny Memorial Library, Room 240, 3550 Trousdale Pkwy, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, United States
RSVP HERE
We invite you to join the Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office for a discussion of the LA County Sustainability Plan and its potential to promote and expand new business opportunities in the United States’ most populous county and the world’s third largest metropolitan economy.
A diverse group of business leaders, County officials, and economic and workforce development specialists from across California will examine the sustainability plan’s potential to drive economic and job growth. Join us to discuss how the plan will shape the future economy of LA County by accelerating demand for advanced transportation, renewable energy, energy efficient infrastructure, and urban greening while supporting strategic and inclusive workforce development practices.
Speakers include:
Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles County, Second District
Senator Fran Pavley, Environmental Policy Director, USC Schwarzenegger Institute
JR DeShazo, Director, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation
Gary Gero, Chief Sustainability Officer, Los Angeles County
Wendy Butts, CEO, Los Angeles Conservation Corps
Sam Jammal, Senior Manager of Government Relations Western Region, BYD
Bob Keefe, Executive Director, Environmental Entrepreneurs
Mia Lehrer, President, Studio-MLA
Mary Leslie, President, Los Angeles Business Council
Ron Miller, Executive Secretary, Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building & Construction Trades Council
Estelle Reyes, SVP, Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator
Caroline Torosis, Program Manager, Department of Workforce Development, Aging, and Community Services
Co-hosts:
UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation
UCLA Sustainable LA Grand Challenge
USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and the
USC Center for Sustainability Solutions

High Tech, Deep Salt, and the Future of Fresh Water: How the Renewable Revolution Can Sustain the Last Free-Flowing Rivers
2019-09-11 15:45 - 16:45 | UCLA School of Law, Room 2442, 385 Charles E Young Dr. East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
RSVP HERE
The world faces the challenge of expanding electricity generation to meet the needs of growing economies while reducing greenhouse gas emissions to nearly zero by 2050 – all while maintaining the integrity of our world’s ecosystems, including conserving the planet’s remaining free-flowing rivers.
In an afternoon discussion at UCLA School of Law on September 11, 2019. Jeff Opperman, Global Freshwater Lead Scientist at WWF, will describe how growing electricity demands and climate objectives can be achieved while avoiding high-impact hydropower’s negative impacts on the world’s remaining freeflowing rivers. Alex Wang, Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law, will moderate the conversation.
Seating is limited. Please fill out the form here to register. Light refreshments will be provided.
Hosted by UCLA Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation.
Contact Daniel Melling, melling@law.ucla.edu with any questions.

Net Zero 2019 Conference & Expo
2019-10-02 07:00 - 2019-10-04 18:00 | Los Angeles Convention Center 1201 S Figueroa Street Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
REGISTER HERE
www.netzeroconference.com

The world’s largest annual net zero building conference!
1,200+ attendees and 100+ exhibitors
Leading global speakers and attendees (9 countries and 23 states represented last year)
6th annual conference
Inspiring keynote speakers
World-class education sessions
Professional networking
Expo Hall with exhibitions from industry-leading companies
Content on net zero energy, water, waste, and transit
See discounted ticket options below

General Schedule:

Wednesday, 10/2: Building Tours (8 am – 5 pm), Net Zero Start Up Competition (3 pm – 5 pm), Pre-Conference Party Hosted by ILFI (6 pm – 10 pm)
Thursday, 10/3: Main Conference & Expo Day (8 am – 5 pm), Robin Hood Benefit Gala (6 pm – 10 pm)
Friday, 10/4: Building Tours (8 am – 5 pm), ILFI Zero Energy Accelerator (8 am – 12 pm)*, ILFI LBC 4.0 Workshop (12:30 pm – 4:30 pm)*, Post-Conference Party Hosted by USGBC-LA (5 pm – 7 pm)

*Tickets sold separately

Click to enlarge
Need-Based Conference Tickets:
Thanks to a generous sponsorship from Southern California Edison, a pool of free tickets for need-based attendees is available. If you find the event to be cost-prohibitive to attend, please contact hello@verdicalevents.com for information on how to obtain a free need-based ticket.
Speaker Registration:
Confirmed speakers and panelists receive complimentary registration for the Main Conference Day (10/3) only. If you’re speaking and wish to attend the full conference (10/2 – 10/4), please contact hello@verdicalevents.com to receive a $100 discount on the Full Conference Pass (includes admittance to all Tours, Main Conference, Expo Hall, and the Robin Hood Gala).
City Employee Discount:
City/Municipal Employees are eligible to receive 10% off NZ19 tickets. Please contact hello@verdicalevents.com for more information.
SCE Diverse Supplier Discount:
Southern California Edison-identified diverse suppliers are eligible to receive 10% off NZ19 tickets. Please contact hello@verdicalevents.com for more information. (Applies to first 20 applicants only.)
Volunteer Opportunities:
Interested in volunteering at NZ19? Contact hello@verdicalevents.com for more information. Volunteers will receive complimentary access for all events that take place on the day(s) of volunteering.
Photographic Release: There will be photographers and film crews at the event. By signing up for a registration pass, you understand that you may appear in photographs or film footage from the conference.

Birkha Bawari - Contemporizing Traditional Water Architecture: a 21st Century Step Well in India
2019-10-16 06:00 - 20:00
RSVP Here
Visit the exhibition India’s Subterranean Stepwells: Photographs by Victoria Lautman before the lecture and enjoy light refreshments afterward in the Fowler Amphitheather.
Step-wells, subterranean aqua-structures, were an integral part of Indian communities from 2nd century A.D. until the end of 19th century. Relegated to history in favor of canal and piped water-supply, these exquisite step-wells were gradually abandoned and forgotten. However, with 21st century water crises in India, the ancient wisdom of harnessing water could now be made a part of a new aqua-architecture and sustainable water network.
This lecture is presented given in conjunction with the Fowler Museum’s exhibition “India’s Subterranean Stepwells: Photographs by Victoria Lautman” Victoria Laufman Photographic Exhibit which features, selection of 48 photographs surveys 16 sites built between the 9th and 18th centuries. Lautman’s photographs evoke aspects of each stepwell’s structure, aesthetics, and atmosphere.
The Speakers
The speakers, Architect A. Mridul and Artist/entrepreneur Shilpa Mridul, will talk about their project, Birkha Bawarii. It is fashioned like a step-well, designed and built in Umaid Heritage Housing Township in Jodhpur, a water-stressed city on the fringe of the Thar Desert of India. They will also talk about their efforts to replicate and expand that network, and to integrate the arts, history and culture of the region into this renewal.
Date: Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Location: Lenart Auditorium, Fowler Museum at UCLA Auditorium
5:00pm Visit the exhibition India’s Subterranean Stepwells: Photographs by Victoria Lautman
6:00pm A. Mridul and Shipla Mridul Lecture
7:15pm Light refreshments after the Lecture in the Fowler Amphitheather
Copresented by UCLA Water Resources Group, UCLA Department of Geography, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation, UCLA Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies, and UCLA Center for Indian and South Asian Studies.

Summit on State & Local Progress Toward 100% Clean Energy
2019-11-06 12:30 - 19:30 | UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center, 425 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
This first-of-its kind, national summit will spotlight the latest progress and insights from leaders advancing and achieving the transformative goal of 100% clean electricity. The convening will facilitate peer-to-peer sharing of best practices. In attendance will be more than 200 invited national leaders, state legislators, city mayors, activists, regulators, and scholars.
Session topics and speakers include:
How Have Cities and Counties Gone to 100% Clean Energy?

Mayor Jackie Biskupski of Salt Lake City, Utah
Mayor Emeritus Bob Dixson of Greensburg, Kansas
Mayor Pro Tem Carmen Ramírez of Oxnard, California

Lessons from State Leaders for 100% Carbon-free Electricity

Senate Pro Tem Emeritus Kevin de León of California
Senator Emeritus Chuck McIlhinney of Pennsylvania
Representative Patricia Roybal Caballero of New Mexico
Representative Gael Tarleton of Washington State

Designing Federal and State Policy for Success

Allison Clements of the Energy Foundation
Hal Harvey of Energy Innovation
Roger Kim of Climate + Clean Energy Equity Fund

By invitation-only. For more information or to request an invitation, please email Colleen Callahan at ccallahan@luskin.ucla.edu.
For more details, see the full event website.

Convening with Child Care Providers on Status of AB 2370
2020-01-29 11:00 - 14:00 | Salvation Army the Siemon Center, 7651 South Central Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90001, United States
RSVP Here
Learn about and provide your feedback on AB 2370. AB 2370 is a new law that impacts licensed child care centers by requiring them to test their water for lead. Join First 5 LA, the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation, the Child Care Alliance, and other child care providers to learn about this new law, ask questions to representative from the California Department of Social Services, and provide your feedback to ensure this program is a success. Ample street parking is also available. Refreshments provided. Spanish translation available, if requested.

Energy Innovation Conference 2020
2020-02-28 09:00 - 17:00 | UCLA Anderson School of Management, 110 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
RSVP HERE
The Energy Innovation Conference is an event that brings together students, academics and professionals to showcase companies and technologies with the potential to reinvent the energy industry. This year’s presenters will focus on a number of topics, including Energy Finance, Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Resiliency & Storage.
Our keynote addresses this year will be given by Sarah Slusser, CEO of Cypress Creek Renewables, in a conversation with Nurit Katz, Chief Sustainability Officer for UCLA. The Conference will feature panelists, moderators and representatives from 8Minute Energy, Calgren, Chargepoint, Green Tech Media, Griddy, LADWP, Latham & Watkins, Novogradac, Substance Power and Mobility, WoodMackenzie, Zero Waste Energy, and other major players in the energy field.
The conference is attended by over 200 industry professionals, UCLA Anderson students, and students from the UCLA Engineering School.
Keynote Speakers
Sarah Slusser
CEO, Cypress Creek Renewables
Matt Petersen
President and CEO, Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator
Panels
Energy Finance

Novagradac
Latham & Watkins
Angeleno Group

Resiliency & Storage

8Minute Solar
LADWP
Clean Power Alliance
Advanced Sustainability Institute

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Calgren Renewable Fuels
Zero Waste Energy
Griddy

The Human Right to Water in LA County: A Luskin Innovators Series Event on Progress, Persistent Inequities, and Proposed Solutions
2020-03-02 18:00 - 20:00 | UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Room 2355 337 Charles E. Young Drive East Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
Monday, March 2, 2020 | 6PM-8PM
RSVP Here
Join us to learn about the latest progress, persistent inequities, and proposed solutions to ensure the human right to water for everyone in Los Angeles County. Gregory Pierce, lead of the Luskin Center for Innovation’s water research, will present on key findings from our latest assessment of water systems in the L.A. region. He will be joined by a panel of government and advocacy leaders and other partners.
Confirmed speakers:

Madelyn Glickfeld, Director, UCLA Water Resources Group, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability (moderator)
Martha Argüello, Executive Director, Physicians for Social Responsibility – Los Angeles
Veronica Herrera, UCLA Department of Urban Planning
Paul Novak, Executive Officer, Local Agency Formation Commission for the County of Los Angeles
Adan Ortega, Executive Director, Cal Mutuals
Gregory Pierce, Associate Director, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation

Luskin Summit 2020: A Call to Action
2020-04-22 - 2020-05-07 | Online
The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs will wrap up its 25th anniversary celebration with the second convening of a research-informed, cross-sector conversation about major issues facing the Los Angeles region with the Luskin Summit. In light of the health crisis, this event will now be a virtual series of talks.

DETAILS AND REGISTRATION

Charting a Sustainable Recovery: Leveraging Environmental Investment Opportunities with COVID-19 Economic Stimuli
2020-05-22 14:30 - 15:30
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, policymakers are drafting the largest economic stimulus packages in history. These policies offer a tremendous opportunity to invest in sustainability-related initiatives. This webinar will examine:

How should we think about the environment during and after the pandemic?
The recovery from the 2008 recession advanced environmental goals in unprecedented ways. What are lessons from the 2008 recession and the ways it advanced environmental goals that could be adapted today?
What key opportunities and needs exist for environmental investments in COVID economic stimulus packages?
What can the public sector do to advance sustainability goals at the local, state, and federal level? How can investments maximize social, economic, and environmental benefits?

WATCH HERE
This UCLA Luskin Summit session is co-hosted by the Luskin Center for Innovation and the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.
Speakers
J.R. DeShazo
Director
Luskin Center for Innovation
J.R. DeShazo is the Director of the Luskin Center for Innovation at UCLA. He also is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Policy in the Luskin School of Public Affairs at UCLA, where he is an expert in environmental economics and planning, as well as climate, energy, water and sustainable transportation policy. He holds a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from Harvard University and a M.Sc. in Economics from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He was awarded Professor of the Year five times from 2001 to 2019 by the UCLA Masters Program in Public Policy. His recent research has focused on designing cost effective and equitable policies that incentivize clean technology adoption. He has previously advised the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Science Foundation, the United Nations, McArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, among many state and local governmental agencies.
Bob Keefe
Executive Director
Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2)
Bob Keefe is E2’s Executive Director, overseeing E2’s work across the country and coordinating E2’s staff and chapters stretching from Boston to San Diego. Bob speaks regularly about the economic benefits of smart environmental policies; the clean energy economy; jobs and related issues, and has been widely quoted in publications nationwide. Prior to joining E2 in 2011, Bob spent more than 20 years as a political, business and environmental journalist. He served as the chief Washington correspondent for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution; as a California-based national reporter for Cox Newspapers/Cox News Service; as technology editor for the Austin (Tx) American-Statesman and as a business and investigative reporter for the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times. Bob also co-founded a technology news Web site and has co-authored or edited several business-related books. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was a fellow at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
Fran Pavley
Environmental Policy Director, USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and California State Senator Emeritus
Fran Pavley served 29 years in elected office. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Pavley was elected the first mayor of Agoura Hills in 1982, and served 14 years in the California Assembly and the State Senate. Former State Senator Pavley authored landmark climate policies (AB 1493, AB 32, SB 32, and others) that have created a market for innovation and investment in clean energy and vehicles, which have helped clean up our air, grow the economy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As chair of the Senate’s Natural Resources and Water Committee, she was able to pass the state’s first sustainable Groundwater Management Act, promote policies to protect our ocean and watersheds, and adopt measures to create more sustainable local water supplies. She is working as the Environmental Policy Director for the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and serves on several state and local advisory boards and committees.
Matt Petersen
President and CEO
Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI)
Prior to joining LACI, Matt Petersen was appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti as the first ever Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Los Angeles. Serving as CSO for four years, Petersen was the chief architect of the groundbreaking Sustainable City pLAn, led efforts to make LA a global leader in EVs, and helped create the Climate Mayors. Matt co-founded Global Green USA and led the organization for 19 years as President and CEO. The organization was a pioneer in greening of affordable housing, schools, and cities as well as helping grow the solar sector. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Matt put forth a vision and mobilized resources to green the rebuilding of New Orleans, including schools, the Lower 9th Ward, and more. Matt is chair of the Climate Mayors board, and a board member of Global Green USA, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, Center for Environmental Health, and the Sir Edmund Hilary Institute for International Leadership. Matt is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the LA Sustainability Leadership Council, and served as an advisor to the Clinton Global Initiative on energy and the environment while a CGI member for 10 years. He has a son, and is a retired AYSO coach.

Adapting to the Pandemic: How Organizations in the San Joaquin Valley Are Responding to Meet Clean Transportation and Livelihood Needs
2020-06-29 14:00 - 15:00
The live webinar has concluded. You can watch the archived webinar here.

Faced with unprecedented conditions, organizations throughout California are pivoting their programming to best serve their communities. This webinar will explore how organizations are innovating with local governments to adapt in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic to provide vital clean transportation, environmental, and food security services to in-need households, as well as larger community economic benefits.

This discussion is part of our Charting a Sustainable Recovery webinar series, which convenes elected officials, civic and business leaders, non-profit advocates, and friends from the philanthropic community to discuss how COVID-19 recovery policies can advance sustainability and environmental health goals in California and beyond.
