Cal Poly Initiative for Climate Leadership and Resilience

Thank you to the speakers, track leads, moderators, community partners, and attendees who helped make Climate Solutions Now 2025 a success! Last week, the Climate Solutions Now conference ran virtually from 2/3-2/7 and featured over 78 sessions (approx. 70 hours worth of content!). Almost 800 attendees joined us to learn about climate solutions in industries and sectors like agriculture, business, energy, and water. We'll see you next year for Climate Solutions Now 2026! Learn more about Climate Solutions Now: https://lnkd.in/erYZWwCg Learn more about the Cal Poly Initiative for Climate Leadership and Resilience: https://lnkd.in/d_ziU-c5 Interested in speaking at CSN26, or have questions about this year's conference? Email [email protected]. #ClimateSolutionsNow #CSN25 #CalPolyICLR #CalPoly #ClimateConference #SustainabilityConference #ClimateSolutions #ClimateAction

Why are denial about climate change and angry resistance to needed climate actions ramping up? What can we do to accelerate progress toward a clean energy future? I addressed these questions in my 20-minute presentation at the Climate Solutions Now conference. You can watch at https://lnkd.in/gukVnza5 #climatechange #climatedenial #climateaction #climatesolutions

?? Join the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council! ?? NOAA has officially announced a 60-day recruitment period for community seats on the newly forming Sanctuary Advisory Council for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. This is an incredible opportunity to help shape the management and future of this important sanctuary. The advisory council will provide community-based advice and serve as a bridge between local communities and the sanctuary. Seats available include: - Indigenous Cultural Knowledge (2) - Public-at-Large (San Luis Obispo & Santa Barbara Counties) - Conservation, Education, Research - Tourism & Recreation - Ports, Harbors, & Maritime Transportation - Offshore Energy & Telecommunications - Commercial & Recreational Fishing - Student Leadership (non-voting) In addition to these, voting and non-voting government seats will represent tribal, local, state, and federal agencies. If you or someone you know is passionate about marine conservation, cultural heritage, or sustainable use of ocean resources, we encourage you to apply! ?? Applications are due by March 7, 2025. For more information and application details, visit: ?? https://lnkd.in/gHf2_spd Let’s work together to ensure this sanctuary thrives for generations to come! ?? [Photo credit: Robert Schwemmer] #ChumashHeritage?#MarineSanctuary?#OceanConservation?#IndigenousCoStewardship?#NOAA?#GetInvolved?#CommunityLeadership

Today is the last day of the Climate Solutions Now conference! With a 1-day ticket, you can still join us for 15 talks on Agriculture and Food Systems, Environmental Justice, and Transportation, including the following: Osprey Orielle Lake, Founder and Executive Director of Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International, will be speaking on "Women Leading the Way in Climate Justice Organizing" at 11:10 am PT. Talk Abstract: Because of unequal gender norms globally, women are impacted first and worst by?climate?change, and yet, one of the untold stories is how incredibly vital women are to local and global?solutions. In this talk,?Osprey?Orielle Lake?explores the ways in which women’s leadership worldwide is essential to?climate?justice work. Study after study shows that we must involve women at every level if we are to succeed in areas of just?climate?solutions, social equality, and bold transformative change.?Osprey?will also be discussing?her new book, "The Story is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis", and exploring themes of intersectional Climate Justice movement building and visions for a?healthy and just path forward. View the conference agenda: https://lnkd.in/gr_W5_NX Register for a 1-day ticket for the last day of Climate Solutions Now (and you'll get access to the recordings of all 80+ talks from the past 5 days!): https://lnkd.in/gqzxan2j #ClimateSolutionsNow #CalPolyICLR #CSN25 #CalPolySLO #CalPoly #WECAN #WECANNetwork #Sustainability #ClimateChange #ClimateAction #ClimateSolutions #Environment #SDGs #SustainableDevelopment #EnvironmentalJustice #ClimateJustice #ClimateTransformation #IntersectionalEnvironmentalism

Introducing our final plenary speaker for the #ClimateSolutionsNow conference (2/3-2/7): Gia Vacin, Deputy Director for Zero Emission Vehicle Market Development at the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)! Her plenary talk is titled "Driving Toward a Fossil-Free Future" and will take place at 1:10 pm PT on Friday, February 7th. Talk Abstract: This session will explore what California is doing in the transportation sector to combat climate change and achieve the state’s zero-emission vehicle and climate neutrality targets. Gia will share highlights from California’s Zero Emission Vehicle and Hydrogen Market Development strategies, as well as the tools the state is using to overcome key barriers and to promote opportunities to advance a robust an equitable fossil-free future. She will offer her insights and lessons learned from her decades long career across in environmental science, management, and policy on remaining optimistic and focusing on what matters as we face one of the greatest existential treats to humanity. This will be an interactive discussion with time for the audience to share thoughts and ask questions. View the conference agenda: https://lnkd.in/gr_W5_NX Register for a 1-day ticket for the last day of Climate Solutions Now: https://lnkd.in/gqzxan2j #CalPolyICLR #CSN25 #CalPolySLO #CalPoly #CaliforniaClimatePolicy #CAGoBiz #ClimateNeutrality #FossilFree #ZeroEmissionVehicles #ZEVMarket #ZEV #ElectricVehicles #HydrogenMarket #ClimatePolicy #Sustainability #ClimateChange #ClimateAction #ClimateSolutions #Environment #SDGs #SustainableDevelopment

Join us tomorrow for Day 4 of the virtual Climate Solutions Now conference, and learn more about the role of forest carbon and geospatial carbon accounting via the following presentations: - Torrey Sanseverino (Senior Manager, Beyond Carbon at BeZero Carbon): "What role can global forest carbon markets play in emissions reductions?" - Marc Horney (Professor, Biological Sciences at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo): "Developing technologies in environmental monitoring - LiDAR multispectral imagery fusion" - Cristina Barber (GIS and Remote Sensing Analyst, Anew Climate): "Using remote sensing on forest carbon projects" - G. Andrew Fricker (Associate Professor, Social Sciences at Cal Poly): "Accounting for tropical forest carbon: how new technology increases precision and accuracy of forest carbon stocks" - Camille Pawlak (Researcher at Urban Forest Ecosystem Institute): "Tracking California’s Urban Forest: Big Data and Remote Sensing for Smarter Management" - Derek Manheim (Assistant Professor, Environmental Engineering at Cal Poly): "Carbon Sequestration via Wood Burial in Engineered Environmentally Secure Repositories" - Le Bienfaiteur Sagang (Research Scientist at CTrees and UCLA's Institute of the Environment and Sustainability): "A dynamic platform for tracking carbon in every tree for digital MRV" Register today to access the next 2.5 days and 40 sessions of content, and to access recordings of all talks from February 3-7! View the conference agenda: https://lnkd.in/gr_W5_NX Buy tickets for Climate Solutions Now: https://lnkd.in/gqzxan2j #ClimateSolutionsNow #CalPolyICLR #CSN25 #CalPolySLO #CalPoly #Sustainability #ClimateChange #ClimateAction #ClimateSolutions #Environment #SDGs #SustainableDevelopment #ForestCarbon #GeospatialCarbonAccounting #CarbonAccounting #BeZeroCarbon #CarbonMarkets #EnvironmentalMonitoring #AnewClimate #RemoteSensing #ForestCarbonStocks #UFEI #CaliforniaUrbanForest #CarbonSequestration #EnvironmentalEngineering #CTrees #UCLAIES

Today is Day 3 of #ClimateSolutionsNow! Register today to access the next 3 days and 50 sessions of content, and to access recordings of all talks from February 3-7. Please join us tomorrow, Thursday 2/6, at 2:10 pm PT for a talk with Kai Burrus, Aritree Samanta, and Autumn Thoyre (Co-Directors of Climate HQ at San Francisco State): "Climate Leadership in Action: Transforming California's Future through CSU's Climate Change Initiative". Abstract: Join us for an engaging and collaborative exploration of the California State University's climate change leadership program. This interactive workshop will challenge participants to envision and actively shape the future of climate action across California's largest public university system. Through dynamic discussions and collaborative activities, we'll unpack our CSU - Climate Change proposal, highlighting its innovative approach to cultivating a diverse, interdisciplinary climate change workforce. Participants will dive into the critical mission of preparing 650,000 graduates to become climate change leaders, exploring how our campuses are already making meaningful impacts and envisioning the transformative potential of the proposed initiatives. We'll examine key strategies including climate change curriculum development, research grants, student fellowships, and cross-campus collaborations that aim to create a more equitable and comprehensive approach to addressing climate challenges. This workshop is designed for students, faculty, and staff who are passionate about climate action and eager to contribute to systemic change. Come prepared to share your campus experiences, dream big about potential solutions, and provide critical feedback that will help shape the future of climate leadership in the CSU system. View the conference agenda: https://lnkd.in/gr_W5_NX Buy tickets for Climate Solutions Now: https://lnkd.in/gqzxan2j #CalPolyICLR #CSN25 #CalPolySLO #CalPoly #SFSU #SFSUClimateHQ #Sustainability #ClimateChange #ClimateAction #ClimateSolutions #Environment #SDGs #SustainableDevelopment #ClimateLeadership #CampusSustainability #CSUSustainability #SustainabilityCurriculum #CSU

I will give a talk at Climate Solutions Now 2025 on The Intersection of Sustainability and Parking. Every element of the parking experience can somehow achieve a more sustainable process including planning and design, operations, and strategic management. Attend and learn more about Cal Poly's sustainable transportation program and goals. Looking forward to a great turnout! #ClimateSolutionsNow

It's not too late to sign up for #ClimateSolutionsNow! We're just starting day 2 of the 5-day, all-virtual conference. Register today to access the next 3.5 days and 65 sessions of content, and to access recordings of all talks. As an example of a talk you can still attend, tomorrow, Loretta M. Lynch (Former President of the California Public Utilities Commission) will be joining us at 11:10 am PT for a talk on: "The Pathway to Perdition: How the California Independent System Operator's Pathways Plan will prevent California from reaching its climate and GHG emissions reductions goals". Abstract: The CAISO and its interested "stakeholders" have planned for years to escape California's control by giving away the CAISO's power to run its current CA-only electricity market to a regional, non-California new entity.?Now a bill is set to be introduced in the CA Legislature to give away CA's control to a non-CA western entity that will cede California's power to set the rules for how CAISO operates California's electricity market and its transmission grid to an entity entirely outside California's laws or control. This presentation shows how giving away California's power over its electricity markets and expanding the current California-only geographical footprint will likely destroy California's Renewable energy Portfolio Standards and will allow the Trump FERC and DOE to require that CA not only accept, but also subsidize coal-fired electricity into California. California policymakers should resist any proposal to give away its power to the Trump FERC and instead should prioritize protecting California's consumers, environment and laws. View the conference agenda: https://lnkd.in/gr_W5_NX Buy tickets for Climate Solutions Now: https://lnkd.in/gqzxan2j #CalPolyICLR #CSN25 #CalPolySLO #CalPoly #CPUC #CaliforniaPublicUtilitiesCommission #Sustainability #ClimateChange #ClimateAction #ClimateSolutions #Environment #SDGs #SustainableDevelopment #GHGreduction #RenewableEnergy #Transmission #ClimatePolicy #CaliforniaEnergy

The virtual #ClimateSolutionsNow conference started today and will run until this Friday Feb 7 ??? You can still register for all-access or select day passes until the last day (ps. there is student discount!!) Join Earth Hacks exec director Sanjana Paul on the closing morning for an online version of our Environmental Justice in Tech Jamboard workshop ?? Check out the full line-up and gets tickets at https://lnkd.in/erYZWwCg