Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 63.01
Liaison Holli Fajack
Submission Date May 9, 2024

STARS v2.2

California State University, Long Beach
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Christopher Reese
Assoc Vice Pres, Advancement Operations/Gov Rel
University Relations & Development (URD)
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Local advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the municipal/local level?:
Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:
In 2022, CSULB took measures to comply with the Long Beach Water Department water restrictions by modifying irrigation schedules and limiting water to campus fountains. Signage was provided to promote student water reductions in support of the City’s efforts.

In 2023, CSULB led the CSU 5 partnership with the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy, which is named as the lead for the Advance Hydrogen Roadmap with two sites in California: Long Beach and Los Angeles.

In 2023, CSULB partnered with the Long Beach Port on the Pier Wind proposal to create a dedicated wind energy pier for the development and launch of floating wind turbines throughout California.

Regional advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level?:
Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:
The California State University (CSU) participates in public policy through open dialogue with the State Relations & Advocacy Office which advocates through lobbying efforts on behalf of the CSU system. The CSU’s Advocacy and State Relations (ASR) team monitors all sustainability legislation that impacts the CSU specifically. It also participates in state-wide advocacy on issues, such as climate change policy, energy efficiency, water resources, and other utility issues that impact the operation and physical facilities. ASR and the Chancellor’s Office also work with the Governor’s Offices and are members of the Direct Access Customer Coalition (DACC) and the Alliance for Retail Markets advocacy groups to advocate for the best interest of the CSU on energy and sustainability efforts.
The CSU provides public comment, meets with legislative staff, and testifies at budget subcommittee hearings to express CSU support for regulatory initiatives and activities related to carbon emission reductions and climate resiliency.

The CSU’s advocacy, in collaboration with the Board of Trustees, works to ensure diverse stakeholders are represented and considered in decision-making processes.

In calendar year 2022, CSU engaged with the state legislature on two (2) bills pertaining to sustainability:

SB 155: Public resources trailer bill, contains historic infusions of funding for public resource projects, including wildfire & forest resilience, water & drought, climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, and energy.


AB 2232: School facilities: heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, require a covered school, and request the University of California, to ensure that its HVAC system meets the minimum ventilation rates in effect at the time the building permit for installation of that HVAC system was issued. The bill would also require a covered school, and request the University of California, to install filtration that achieves specified minimum efficiency reporting values (MERV) levels, determined by the school to be feasible with the existing HVAC system, as provided. The bill would require, upon the next triennial update of the California Building Standards Code, the California Building Standards Commission and the Division of the State Architect to research, develop, and propose for adoption mandatory standards for carbon dioxide monitors in classrooms of a covered school and the University of California. By imposing new duties on local educational agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

National advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the national level?:
Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:
Tom Obrien, Associate Dean for the College of Professional and Continuing Education at CSULB currently serves as Associate Director for the National Center for Sustainable Transportation, which is funded by the US Department of Transportation's University Transportation Center. The National Center for Sustainable Transportation is the only national center focused on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act research priority area of preserving the environment.

The CSU believes strongly in sustainable human relations and has taken a clear and public position to support and lobby for the protection of DACA students (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). Specifically, the CSU offers free legal support services throughout the system, and additionally, all 23 CSU campuses offer resources to support undocumented students.

International advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the international level?:
Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:
In 2023, CSULB Engineering students participated in the Orange County Sustainability Decathlon, the international sustainability competition, promoting sustainable housing design strategies.

The CSULB Global Studies Institute advocates for sustainable practices internationally via social media, the GSI Symposium/Award, the Global Fellows Program, and faculty/student research projects.

The California Global Education Project at CSU Long Beach hosted an institute for K-12 Educators in 2023 to empower eco-literate global competence, justice, and agency in alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goal #11.

Optional Fields 

A brief description of other political positions the institution has taken during the previous three years (if applicable):
The CSU routinely supports and opposes legislation on matters related to higher education. Read more at: https://www2.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/government/advocacy-and-state-relations/Pages/default.aspx

Individual CSU campuses do not take political positions independent of the CSU Board of Trustees, therefore, this is not applicable.

None
A brief description of political donations the institution made during the previous three years (if applicable):
As a publicly-funded institution, this is not applicable.

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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