University of Georgia
PAE-24: Sustainability Policy Advocacy

UGA participates in state and federal policy issues. With strengths in economics, forestry, agriculture, natural resources, marine biology, engineering, bioenergy, environmental design, climate, and more, UGA faculty and staff serve as experts in their fields and are frequently called upon by elected government officials, both locally and nationally, to provide guidance during policy discussions.

A recent and notable example is Dr. Marshall Shepherd, 2013 President of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), who recently appeared on CBS's Face the Nation to discuss changes in weather and climate. The Georgia Initiative for Climate and Society fosters a scientific community dedicated to: Improving our understanding of the complex processes and effects of climate variability and change on natural, managed, human-built, and societal systems; and developing user-inspired effective and appropriate adaptation and mitigation strategies, solutions, information and tools.

The UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government works with public officials throughout Georgia and around the world to improve governance and people's lives. From Georgia's early days as a largely agrarian state with a modest population to its modern-day status as a national and international force in business, industry, and politics with a population of almost 10 million, the Institute has helped government leaders navigate change and forge strong directions for a better Georgia. The Environmental Policy Program provides planning and environmental services to help communities effectively develop and implement a vision through workable solutions to the challenges they face, offering expertise in land use planning, downtown revitalization, environmental management, corridor planning and design, and more to inform the state-level or community-based planning process. The program also provides training and education to understand the environmental issues and potential solutions for a community, region, and/or state.

Through the UGA Cooperative Extension Program, a number of public issues are addressed and solved. The College of Agricultural and Environmetnal Sciences Cooperative Extension includes fields of agriculture, environment, family, food, lawn & garden, and 4-H; recent legislation involvement includes the US Farm Bill. The College of Family and Consumer Sciences addresses policy and practices that lead to well-being through outreach programs in family, food, helath, home and money.

UGA Public Service and Outreach Archway Partnership engages with Georgia communities to help improve quality of life and solve some of the state’s most pressing issues from senior hunger to clean energy. The 2013 UGA Archway Partnership Report can be found at: http://www.archwaypartnership.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Annual_Report_2013_spread.pdf.

Following these programs, local officials and decision making bodies such as watershed councils, city councils, county commissions and numerous other entities receive policy advice and direction from the Cooperative Extension, its affiliates, and other experts in the respective fields from UGA. Practical information on water conservation and environmental best practices is shared with homeowners and farmers across the state through the University’s vast network of extension agents and research stations.

Carl Vinson Insitute of Government: http://www.cviog.uga.edu/

Georgia Initiative for Climate adn Society: http://climateandsociety.ovpr.uga.edu/

UGA Cooperative Extension: http://extension.uga.edu/

UGA Public Service & Outreach Archway Partnership: http://www.archwaypartnership.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Annual_Report_2013_spread.pdf