University of California, Irvine
PAE-24: Sustainability Policy Advocacy

UC Irvine’s Office of Community and Government Relations, in collaboration with the UC Offices of Federal Governmental Relations and State Governmental Relations, monitors legislation and funding opportunities that align with and impact UC systemwide and campus sustainability research and teaching efforts. The campus routinely reaches out to elected officials on the subject of sustainability in an effort to share new knowledge and contribute to informed policymaking on subjects ranging from climate change to energy and water research.

In recent months, UC Irvine’s Office of Federal Relations has arranged a series of meetings with elected officials, federal agency representatives, and officials within the Administration to create awareness about the UC Climate Solutions Steering Group, which is chaired by Wendell C. Brase, Vice Chancellor for Administrative and Business Services at UC Irvine. Under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Brase, this group advises UC’s Executive Vice President for Business Operations on strategies for moving UC’s climate commitment, with the ultimate goal of climate neutrality.

The University of California has adopted policies to aggressively reduce greenhouse gases generated as a result of University activities and has committed to:
By 2014 – Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to year 2000 levels, per UC Presidential Policy.
By 2020 – Reduce emissions to 1990 levels, per UC Presidential Policy and in compliance with AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act.
As soon as feasible – Achieve climate neutrality, per the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), of which UC is a charter signatory.

Earth System Science and Civil Engineering professor Jay Famiglietti provided testimony to the House Space, Science and Technology Committee on July 25, 2012, on drought monitoring and predictions. In addition, data provided by Professors Famiglietti and Soroosh Sorooshian, Director of UC Irvine’s Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing, was used in the Third National Climate Assessment, released in draft form in January 2013. The report was led by Kathy Jacobs, NCA Director and Assistant Director for Climate Assessments and Adaptations in the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The report was written by hundreds of leading scientists and experts from academia, government, and private and non-profit sector authors; the Assessment is a powerful tool for understanding, teaching, planning for, and adapting to climate change.

Additionally, a representative from the National Fuel Cell Research Center at UC Irvine recently did three briefings on Capitol Hill regarding stationary and mobile applications for fuel cells.

UC Irvine’s Transportation and Distribution Services unit engages in advocacy by working with the City of Irvine, the Orange County Transportation Authority, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District to monitor legislation, comment on policy, and seek funding opportunities for sustainable transportation. Transportation and Distribution Services also works through a variety of professional organizations to advocate for rideshare funding, bikeways, Complete Streets, sustainable transportation education, and sustainable practices on college campuses.