See below a Letter from Director of the La Kretz Center, Dr. Brad Shaffer. Dear Fellow California Conservationists, As you may be aware, the UCLA campus has joined many others across the country in a number of protest activities over the last week. UCLA leadership has shifted many activities, including all teaching, to pivot from in-person to online formats. Although the campus is not… Source ..read more

The California Center for Sustainable Communities, along with UCLA research teams and departments, has been selected as a finalist for the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) 2024 Power Player Awards in the Equity category. This prestigious award recognizes exceptional leadership in advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion principles within the energy sector. As part of the LADWP LA100… Source ..read more

UCLA Center for Tropical Research and Congo Basin Institute co-director Dr. Elsa Ordway is leading PANGEA, a NASA-funded effort to design a large-scale field campaign studying tropical forests worldwide. This critical research will improve understanding of how these vital ecosystems are responding to climate change and land-use changes. PANGEA Scoping Workshops Held Around the World… Source ..read more

Founding Director of the California Center for Sustainable Communities and Chair of UCLA’s Environment and Sustainability Ph.D. program Dr. Stephanie Pincetl co-authored a study, “Advancing a Net Zero Urban Water Future in the United States Southwest.” Published in ACS ES&T Water, the research examines the feasibility of Net Zero Urban Water (NZUW) — cities becoming self-sufficient with local… Source ..read more

SAR Zine 2023-2024Download 6 SAR teams have been working hard to create a Zine to showcase their current research progress thus far. Each team has a two page spread dedicated to explaining their project goals in an engaging and creative way for all to enjoy. This zine can only be accessed digitally in order to reduce our paper waste. Limited copies were produced and will be available at… Source ..read more

The Institute of the Environment and Sustainability is proud to announce that Lorena De la Puente Burlando has been awarded a 2024 Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship. The program supports doctoral students in the humanities and interpretive social sciences as they pursue bold and innovative approaches to dissertation research. The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)… Source ..read more

In response to the escalating threat of wildfires, UCLA assistant professor Liz Koslov has been awarded funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation for her research on wildfire adaptation strategies. Her proposal, titled “Assessing managed retreat as an adaptive response to wildfire risk” will investigate the effectiveness, equity and feasibility of managed retreat within the context of… Source ..read more

In the vibrant atmosphere of a university campus like UCLA, sustainability is a vital aspect of reducing waste and fostering an eco-friendly environment. At UCLA, sustainability isn’t just a concept—it’s a lifestyle embraced by students, faculty and staff alike. UCLA, like many large institutions, produces a substantial amount of waste annually. In fact, every second, the equivalent of a… Source ..read more

Decarbonization, the process of reducing or eliminating carbon gas emissions, is crucial in combating climate change. UCLA’s commitment to transitioning to low-carbon, renewable energy sources like wind, solar and hydropower not only benefits the university but also sets a global example. Since 2009, UCLA has made significant strides in reducing its carbon footprint. Source ..read more

UCLA Professor Ursula K. Heise, co-founder and director of the Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies at IoES, recently co-edited a book titled “Environment and Narrative in Vietnam.” This comprehensive work, published by Palgrave Macmillan, delves into Vietnam’s natural environments and environmental challenges through the lens of culture and narrative. The book brings together… Source ..read more