University of California, Los Angeles
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

UCLA recognizes that it is affected by the larger community it is a part of, and therefore engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability.

UCLA Transportation engages with public transit institutions including Antelope Valley Transit Authority, Santa Clarita Transit, Amtrak, Metro, and even the Los Angeles World Airports (FlyAway bus) to promote better routes, transit locations and hours, and the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. UCLA Transportation and the Bicycle Coalition also helped the development of the Los Angeles Bicycle Master Plan by providing input around bike lanes and future bike infrastructure improvements in the city and lobbied for expanded transportation options across the region.

At the request of Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Los Angeles City Council, in 2019, LADWP launched the LA100 Study (100% Renewable Energy Study) to determine what investments should be made to achieve a 100% renewable energy supply. The comprehensive study is being developed with input from the LA100 Advisory Group, comprised of technical experts, research universities, commercial / industrial customers, local government officials, and community interest groups, among other partners.Members of UCLA’s Sustainability Team, Nurit Katz and Bonny Bentzin, and Duane Muller of UCLA’s Grand Challenges Sustainable LA actively participate in the meetings and over the course of many meetings and communications, the UCLA team effectively lobbied to have mortality and health included as a primary category in the cost benefit analysis.
https://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/faces/ladwp/aboutus/a-power/a-p-cleanenergyfuture/a-p-renewableenergystudy;jsessionid=ymWWphwGxlfLnWxRrtGycC2XY96YZgK7y8TQ0vpy7yKGxnS4DwvF!-1334646131?_afrLoop=247521172425343&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=null#%40%3F_afrWindowId%3Dnull%26_afrLoop%3D247521172425343%26_afrWindowMode%3D0%26_adf.ctrl-state%3D9h3mgok7e_4
In November 2019, Los Angeles County Voters approved Measure W, the Safe, Clean Water Program—imposing a 2.5 cent/sq. ft. parcel tax on impermeable surface construction in LA County and is set to provide upwards of $300 million annually to support stormwater and clean water infrastructure projects. Mark Gold, UCLA’s former Associate Vice Chancellor for Energy and Sustainability lobbied consistently for the development of the measure and its successful approval by voters in November 2019. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-gold-optimism-water-infrastructure-20181231-story.html
https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/making-an-economic-case-for-local-water-in-l-a-county

Grand Challenges – Sustainable LA - https://grandchallenges.ucla.edu/sustainable-la/vision/
Is NOT just a research entity, it is actively influencing the region’s choices by customizing research to the specific needs of the many unique ecosystems and neighborhoods in the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County and adjoining counties. The research and policy output is then actively used by policy makers, city managers and community stakeholders to guide implementation that has been informed by these resources. Example target areas include:
• Energy: Moving toward a future in which Los Angeles County obtains 100% of its energy from renewable resources. This work influenced the establishment of the LA100 project and its advisory group in which UCLA has been actively participating.
• Water: Decrease consumption and help Los Angeles County meet 100% of its water needs locally. Mark Gold’s work on Measure W was a direct supporting effort to help the region move toward this goal.
Further examples of this active work is the development of the first ever comprehensive sustainability plan for Los Angeles County, the most populous and one of the most diverse counties in the United States. UCLA researchers were part of the team that developed the plan, not just providing research and topical expertise, but actively interacting with community stakeholders, policy makers and managers to gather informed input. Entitled OurCounty, the plan outlines ambitious sustainability goals targeting a range of environmental, economic and equity issues. The plan sets goals for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, sourcing 80 percent of the County’s water locally by 2045, and protecting the County’s 4,000 species through “no loss of native biodiversity.” UCLA research was used to set evidence-based targets to ensure the region reaches every goal within the allotted timeframe. The plan was developed over the course of 18 months and incorporates feedback from more than 200 public meetings — outreach that was facilitated by a broad consortium of organizations, community members and other stakeholders. Environmental equity is at the core of the plan, which addresses the disproportionate exposure to pollution that disadvantaged communities have historically experienced. In August 2019, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved this ambitious sustainability plan created by the L.A. County Chief Sustainability Office in partnership with UCLA, BuroHappold Engineering, and the Liberty Hill Foundation. It can serve as a model for megacities around the globe.
More info:
L.A. County taps UCLA to help create first-ever sustainability plan
LA County adopts bold sustainability plan

UC State Government Relations (SGR) serves as the University’s primary representative to state elected officials and agencies, providing advocacy on legislation and public policies that provide for, extend, and enhance the University’s authority to conduct its business operations in a manner that is efficient and sustainable as well as advocating against measures that would limit this authority.

Additional examples are cited in the Local section of this credit. Due to the nature of out local and regional community, the work at these two levels is closely intertwined.

The UC System continues to pursue state cap-and-trade revenue and other sources of funding for campus energy-efficiency projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower future energy costs. Many of the proposed projects would also serve as highly visible demonstrations for state-of-the-art energy conservation technologies. UC supported the proposed $25 million allocation of cap-and-trade funds for the University included in the 2016-17 budget and requested additional funding to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects beyond the scope of the proposal that would have provided even greater environmental and economic benefits.

The UC Office of the President’s Wholesale Power Program (“WPP”) Public Policy Involvement: The University of California Wholesale Power Program is in regular communication with UC’s state government relations and policy teams review and track proposed energy-related legislation at the state level. As a regulated load serving entity (“LSE”, a.k.a. an Electric Service Provider or “ESP”) UC often participates in the implementation phase of legislation within state regulatory proceedings.
UC, in its role as an ESP, is regulated by the CPUC and CEC (California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”), the California Energy Commission (“CEC”).) We also have to transact through/via the California Independent System Operator (“CAISO”) for our energy needs. We also report the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”).
Recent highlights of WPP activity at the state level include:
UC staff attended a series of CPUC En Banc meetings and informal public workshops focusing on consumer and retail choice in California. Mark Byron, the UC Office of the President executive director of renewable energy programs, was a panelist on the topic of “What Consumers Want” for the May 2017 En Banc meeting hosted at the CalEPA building in Sacramento.

UC became a party to two CPUC proceedings related to the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (“PCIA”), which is an exit fee borne by customers who do not take full service from an Investor Owned Utility (“IOU). UC has approximately 300,000 MWh of load in this category. In the consolidated ERRA proceeding we are seeking PCIA credits that have been withheld by PG&E. In the PCIA Reform/Replacement proceeding, we are advocating for revisions to the PCIA that are transparent, predictable, and prevent cost shifting to departed customers, as well as establishing a PCIA “sunset” timeline and creating a buy-out option for future PCIA charges.

UC also filed comments regarding:
o Renewable Portfolio Standard (“RPS”) penalty/waiver reforms,
o Implementation of mandatory Integrated Resource Plans (“IRPs”) for all LSEs, pursuant to SB350, and
o The CEC’s proposal to implement Greenhouse Gas (“GHG”)Accounting methodology as part of the required annual power source disclosure process, pursuant to AB1110
As a regulated LSE, we also routinely file progress reports with all the aforementioned agencies related to capacity obligations, RPS compliance, power supply sources, and retail sales.

UCLA Senior Leadership, including Vice Chancellor for Research Roger Wakimoto, have conducted multiple trips to Washington DC to educate Members of Congress, federal agency officials (Department of Energy, National Science Foundation) and staff on UCLA’s Sustainable LA Grand Challenge and advance policies and research opportunities in accordance with its goals.
Other examples include the federal relations team involvement in congressional proposals on climate change, and UCLA experts, including Sean Hecht and Guarav Sant, testifying on topics related to sustainability.


UC Federal Government Relations is the University’s liaison to the federal government, working with Congress, the administration, federal agencies and national organizations to advocate for the University and its missions in education, research and public service. Examples include:
-- Convening UC faculty and staff to host Congressional briefings. Congressional briefings that highlight the impact of the University’s sustainability efforts on campus operations and showcase UC as a model for other institutions are a part of the University’s effort to demonstrate the value of investing in UC and advocate for the federal funding that supports the University’s energy and sustainability goals.
-- Participating in DC lobby days, including the annual Coalition for National Science Funding Day on Capitol Hill. Representatives from UC campuses attend meetings with members of Congress and their staff and contribute to the National Science Foundation (NSF) project exhibit.
-- On June 2, 2017, one day after the White House announced that the U.S. would be withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, the University of California released a statement affirming its commitments to the goals of the Paris agreement and doubling down on its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2025. UC simultaneously launched a call to members of the UC community through the university’s UC Advocacy Network (UCAN) urging students to make pledges to support and work with California’s Governor, Congressional delegation, and state legislators to ensure that California and the UC system stay at the forefront of combating global climate change.
-- In October 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency recognized the University of California for its commitment to green energy. UC was one of only eight organizations nationwide to receive an Excellence in Green Power Use Award from the EPA. The annual award recognizes the nation’s leading green power users for their commitment and contribution to helping advance the development of the nation’s voluntary green power market. David Phillips, UC’s associate vice president for energy and sustainability, attended the 2017 Renewable Energy Markets Conference in New York, where EPA bestowed its award.

In November 2019, University of California as a whole reaffirmed its commitment to the climate.
Joining over 300 other universities, UCLA, as part of the University of California system signed the White House pledge "American Campuses Act on Climate Change" to amplify the voice of the higher education community in advance of the United Nations COP21L climate negotiations in Paris, and to inspire world leaders to commit to action on climate change.

“UC Reaffirms Commitment to Carbon Neutrality” Article: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/uc-reaffirms-commitment-carbon-neutrality-sustainability-goals-following-paris-agreement

“UC President Napolitano’s statement on White House exit from Paris climate accord” Article: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/uc-president-napolitano-s-statement-white-house-s-exit-paris-accords

Advancing Conservation Policy in the Congo Basin

Launched by UCLA and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in 2015, the Congo Basin Institute (CBI) aims to tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges, namely food and water security, climate change, biodiversity loss, public health and emerging diseases. As UCLA’s first foreign affiliate, it is a unique global partnership that aims to not only save the Congo rainforest but also transform the troubled Congo Basin. UCLA provided core start of funding for this effort, and senior UCLA officials (Mark Gold, former Associate Vice Chancellor of Environment and Sustainability; and Kevin Reed, former Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs) attended the launch of CBI. The launch included diplomatic officials (U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon Michael Hoza and ambassadors from other African and European countries) and Cameroonian government officials (including the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development). Other key partners include the University of New Orleans, Drexel University, several Cameroon ministries and universities, and other corporate partners and local and international NGOs.

CBI aims to provide technical assistance to federal government institutions in the region, and to strengthen the policy and regulatory framework supporting sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation. It also aims to build and strengthen capacity at local, national and regional levels to monitor forest cover change, greenhouse emissions and biodiversity. The CBI operates two research stations in Dja Faunal Reserve to provide research to the Cameroon’s Ministry of Forestry to aid in conservation management, and participates in biannual partners meeting. In recent years, the Institute held two capstone policy workshops as part of a six year NSF-funded project on evolutionary processes under climate change in Central Africa. The workshops took place in Cameroon (2018) and Gabon (2019), and are intended to transform conservation policy in a region that is already significantly affected by climate change. UCLA’s research team shared their scientific findings to influence government officials from Cameroon’s Ministry of Forestry, NGOs, and research institutes to strategically prioritize conservation geographies across the region. The team is also taking the inputs from the workshops participants and putting them into a policy briefing to share with stakeholders.

Note: Cameroon is a republic dominated by a strong executive branch. The country has a multiparty system of government, with a strong federal system. In practice, the President and Ministries retain the power to control legislation.

International Refugee Assistance Project - https://law.ucla.edu/student-life/student-organizations/international-refugee-assistance-project/
The UCLA International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) helps refugees escape harm and persecution and start their lives anew. We provide legal representation to those who have none and help refugees navigate the rules and processes of resettlement to safe third countries. UCLA IRAP coordinates with our law firm partners, IRAP Headquarters in New York, NGOs around the Middle East, and fellow IRAP Chapters across the country and in Canada to help refugees. IRAP’s 30 law school chapters and network of hundreds of pro bono attorneys have helped resettle over 3,000 refugees in life or death situations. Student group, pro bono project, and advocacy organization rolled into one, IRAP utilizes pro bono legal representation, strategic litigation, and policy advocacy on behalf of refugees seeking resettlement and to assist those who have already resettled.