Earth Day is here, and our blue and gold university has gotten a shade greener. From sustainable food choices to energy-efficient buildings and native plant landscaping, UCLA has completed several initiatives and made progress toward many of the targets set by the UCLA Sustainability Plan, a comprehensive framework for climate action and solutions that was introduced in 2022. Led by the UCLA… Source ..read more

What’s a hungry, hungry Bruin to do when the munchies hit? Vending machines, the food aisles of stores, and even your roomie’s stash may be where you head to fuel up, but before that first bite, pause to consider the environmental impact. About a third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are linked to food. Snacks can be especially bad — from the outside packaging to the inside’s contents… Source ..read more

What better way to celebrate March’s vernal equinox, marking the official beginning of spring, than to spotlight a superstar of the season – some buzzworthy Bruins known as the campus’s native bees who help UCLA blossom. The native bees are like us, too — they prefer spring’s fair, sunnier weather! California is a native bee diversity hotspot, home to over 1,600 species out of the 4,000… Source ..read more

The yearlong effort will result in a long-term plan for cutting carbon emissions. Imagine a better-powered UCLA that phases out fossil fuels in favor of renewables, slashing pollution. To further green the campus, UCLA is embarking on a decarbonization study to identify ways to accelerate and achieve a switch in usage to low-carbon energy sources. The study is part of a University of… Source ..read more

by Elaina Simonsen An ongoing issue in our society is the desire for more. We long to purchase so much that we end up overconsuming. One of the main perpetrators of overconsumption and waste globally is the fashion industry. The desire to meet demand has caused companies to reduce the quality of materials used to produce clothes to get them out quicker. This is often referred to… Source ..read more

Green from the go: How new campus hires learn about sustainability at UCLA. Every two weeks, 30 to 45 new hires hit the hills of Westwood, step through campus doors, and spend their first workday at UCLA attending a Campus Human Resources New Employee Orientation (NEO). The full-day in-person affair covers relevant, valuable topics for employees—campus services, benefits, and a tour. Source ..read more

As we enter December and the start of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28) in Dubai, November’s release of a sweeping scientific report is still top of mind. The Fifth National Climate Assessment, released by the White House and co-authored by three UCLA professors, covers our changing climate and response strategies. What is indisputable is the human influence — compelling… Source ..read more

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No matter how much we eat or save for leftovers, many meals inevitably end up in the garbage disposal or trashed and in the landfill. With the season for gathering together— and cooking and consuming — upon us, it’s a perfect time to chew over the impact of food waste, what we Bruins can do to minimize it, and action on campus to create a more sustainable food system. In 2021... Source ..read more

Recognizing the need for an urgent, coordinated response to the climate crisis, the University of California is accelerating its transition away from fossil fuels with an update to its Sustainable Practices Policy. UC climate experts, sustainability officers, and other campus leaders developed revised climate action goals for the policy over a long process lasting months. Source ..read more