Overall Rating | Gold |
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Overall Score | 76.57 |
Liaison | Katie Koscielak |
Submission Date | April 11, 2023 |
Cal Poly Humboldt
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy
Status | Score | Responsible Party |
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2.00 / 2.00 |
Katie
Koscielak Sustainability Analyst Facilities Mgmt |
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the municipal/local level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the national level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the international level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:
A brief description of other political positions the institution has taken during the previous three years (if applicable):
A brief description of political donations the institution made during the previous three years (if applicable):
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
There were several entries related to policy advocacy that did not end up meeting STARS criteria for the credit by reviewers. These are:
Relating to local advocacy but not meeting STARS criteria is:
Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid (RCAM)
Quote from the Schatz Center website (http://schatzcenter.org/acv/): “As the first multi-customer microgrid in the Pacific Gas & Electric service territory, this project will provide a test bed for the policies, tariff structures, and operating procedures necessary to integrate microgrids into California’s electric grid. Lessons learned will help create a road map for microgrid interconnection across the state.”
The microgrid was designed and developed by SERC, it will be owned by the RCEA and it will run power lines owned by PG&E. A ribbon cutting event took place on July 7th, 2021 where the following people were in attendance: SERC founding director, RCEA executive director and Chair, US Rep Jared Huffman, HSU President Tom Jackson, and other SERC, PG&E and RCEA members. Articles were published regarding the event such as the one from the RCEA here: https://redwoodenergy.org/100-renewable-microgrid-takes-off-at-airport-in-humboldt-county/.
Relating to state/provincial/regional advocacy, the following items were found to not meet criteria by STARS reviewers but are worth mentioning as they are campus actions that have informed policy at many levels:
1. HumboldtNow Article: HSU Scientist Helps Fishing Industry Set Sustainable Catch Limits (March 19th, 2021)
The work of Andre Buchheister, a professor of Fisheries Biology at HSU, and collaborator David Chagris from University of Florida, on Atlantic menhaden fish helped inform commercial catch limits on Atlantic menhaden fish. Menhaden fish are a critical food source for fish, whales and birds and are the largest catch, by volume, on the Atlantic coast for use in fish oil supplements, livestock feed, and dog food. Buchhesiter and Chagris developed two models, that account for 17 and 61 species groups respectively, that predict how the ecosystem would change depending on different levels of menhaden fishing. The 17 species model helped develop a new menhaden fishing rate that accounts for predator needs which was implemented by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASFMC).[1]
HSU Scientist Helps Fishing Industry Set Sustainable Catch Limits. Mar 19, 2021. http://now.humboldt.edu/news/hsu-scientist-helps-fishing-industry-set-sustainable-catch-limits/
Other Useful Information:
Advancing Ecological Points for Menhaden Using an Ecosystem Model. Oct 1, 2018. https://www.lenfestocean.org/en/news-and-publications/fact-sheet/advancing-ecological-reference-points-for-menhaden-using-an-ecosystem-model
This news article was published by the Lenfest Ocean Program who funded Buchheuster and Chagaris’s research.
2. HumboldtNow Achievements: October 18th, 2020 - Eve Robinson and Nicholas Som, Biological Sciences
“Eve Robinson (Department of Biological Sciences) and Nicholas Som (Department of Fisheries Biology; USFWS) co-authored an article in the North American Journal of Fisheries Management, titled “Prevalence of infection in hatchery-origin Chinook Salmon correlates with abundance of Ceratonova shasta spores: implications for management and disease risk”. Their research was motivated by questions the State raised about potential linkages between hatchery fish and disease risk, and results from this work were published earlier this year in time to be used by decision-makers in timing the release of hatchery smolts in the Klamath River.”[1]
https://cnrs.humboldt.edu/achievements?page=4 (midway down page)
Other Useful Information:
Here is the link to their full research paper: https://afspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/nafm.10456?casa_token=Z0Xe6Ye_KasAAAAA%3AJK-6g_9T8fC8yZeiQp9silcFwcTRpDlFtfN934_WcAdB8cwFTiSE7PwrvruGDWW6sFQED6Nl0QP1DBLI
3. Online Week of ACTION for Mobilizing California Water Justice put on by Save California Salmon and HSU NAS department
There were five presentations from October 19th to October 23rd 2020. Each presentation discussed different topics: Dismantle Environmental Racism, Learn Where Your Water Comes From, Fight For Clean Water, Halt Water Privatization, and Undam the Klamath. At the end of each presentation, a google document was provided detailing petitions to sign, places to donate, information to tweet/post/share and phone numbers/email addresses of government officials. Some of the action items for attendees included the following:
-Demand increase accessibility and participation in decision making process and demand increased tribal representation on CA Water Board
-Tell Gavin Newsom and Army Corp of Engineers that communities in CA do not want the Delta Tunnel which would divert water from the Sacramento and Trinity Rivers and decimate ecology and flows of the Bay Delta
-Write to a regional water board to urge them to make controlling agricultural pollution and pesticides a top priority
-Write to Senator Mike McGuire that you support the Natural Resource Agency Budget which would fund tribal fire programs, prescribed burning and much more
-Write to Governor Gavin Newsom that you support University of California System Endowment to donate 1% of their returns to indigenous groups
4. HumboldtNow Article: “Save the Redwoods League and HSU Research Confirms Redwood’s Role in Climate Change” (April 30th, 2020)
Professor Stephen C. Sillet is the Kenneth L. Fisher Chair of Redwood Forest Ecology in the College of Natural Resources & Sciences at Humboldt State University. He conducted research with other researchers from Save the Redwoods League about the important role Redwoods play in fighting against climate change. Researcher says “Just as exciting is the fact that young redwood forests can accumulate biomass at rates even faster than old-growth stands—with trees surpassing 200 feet tall in less than a century. Our research shows that investing in redwoods’ restoration—in particular helping to set second-growth forests on the trajectory to old-growth characteristics—would have tangible carbon benefits,” and “These RCCI results are provided as policymakers in California and all over the world are exploring the potential of natural solutions to the climate change crisis, particularly the role forests play in storing carbon in their wood as they grow. California’s current strategy for meeting its ambitious goals for reducing global greenhouse gases identifies an important role for natural and working lands. In 2019, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change also issued a special report on the outsized role that forest conservation and restoration can play in addressing climate change." (a quote taken from the Humboldt State Now article here: https://now.humboldt.edu/news/save-the-redwoods-league-and-hsu-research-confirms-redwoods-role-in-climate )
5. Times Standard News Article: Eureka’s Natalie Arroyo to serve on Klamath River restoration nonprofit
Environmental Science & Management instructor and Eureka City Councilmember Natalie Arroyo will serve as a board member for the organization heading the Klamath River’s restoration, the governor’s office announced Friday.
Arroyo will be one of 15 board members serving the Klamath River Renewable Corporation, a nonprofit tasked with overseeing the removal of four Klamath dams. She is one of five board members appointed by the governor.
Read more at https://www.times-standard.com/2019/11/22/eurekas-natalie-arroyo-to-serve-on-klamath-river-restoration-nonprofit/ .
In addition, a policy related project at the national level is similar to #1-5 above that were found to not meet "advocacy" criteria by STARS reviewers but are campus actions that stand to significantly inform policy:
>>Published in journal Energy Policy: How the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard could use garbage to pay for electric vehicles
Authors were Cal Poly Humboldt staff, faculty and students: Amin Younes, Kevin R. Fingerman, Cassidy Barrientos, Jerome Carman, Karly Johnson, Eli S.Wallach
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421522001410
From the article abstract: “The U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is a key federal program shifting the nation's transportation fuel mix towards lower-carbon alternatives. A 2014 update to the standard included certain types of renewable electricity as qualifying fuels, supporting vehicle electrification within the RFS for the first time. This study investigates the potential under existing regulatory authority to expand deployment of low-carbon waste-to-electricity pathways, yielding revenue that could be used to subsidize electric vehicle (EV) sales or to support other RFS-aligned climate and transport-sector goals. We find that by accounting for drivetrain efficiency in credit allocation and creating a centralized entity to accrue credits, the RFS could generate $8.7 to $24 billion in revenues annually that could be used to provide EV subsidies of $3600 to $9200 or to otherwise accelerate transport electrification.”
International policy work found to not meet "advocacy" criteria but seems worth mentioning including:
From Schatz Energy Research Center (SERC):
1. Researchers from SERC worked to establish Lighting Global findings and policy recommendations as follows:
The 2020 Global Off-Grid Solar Market Trends Report from Lighting Global
Read more at https://schatzcenter.org/2020/03/lg-2020mtr/
Read the full report at https://www.lightingglobal.org/resource/2020markettrendsreport/
From the website: “Every two years, Lighting Global releases a comprehensive state of the industry analysis — the Global Off-Grid Solar Market Trends Report. This document takes a deep dive into market dynamics and projections, and maps investment and policy opportunities.”
SERC assists in developing this research and associated reports.
2. Lighting Global Quality Standards set the international baseline level of quality, durability, and truth in advertising to protect consumers.
Read more about the webinar in which findings were discussed: http://schatzcenter.org/2019/05/lgstandards-webinar/
Read the full standards document at https://www.lightingglobal.org/quality-assurance-program/our-standards/
On May 13, Schatz Center Director Arne Jacobson will present on proposed changes to the Lighting Global Quality Standards / IEC 62257-13-1. The proposed changes include increased battery and PV safety requirements, and additional labeling and performance reporting requirements. Following the presentation, Dr. Jacobson will be joined by Jit Bhattacharya of Fenix International and Stephan Lux of Fraunhofer ISE for a panel discussion
3. Off-grid conferences in Amsterdam
Read more http://schatzcenter.org/2019/06/gogla-amsterdam/
From the article cited above: “During the conference, [SERC researchers] met with company representatives from new and established companies to discuss current and future changes to the Lighting Global Quality Assurance program. [Researchers] also attended sessions on GOGLA’s policy advocacy work and consumer protection efforts, and new technologies being developed for pay-as-you-go providers.
4. Cal Poly Humboldt co-hosted an advocacy discussion with California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara at UN COP 27 to "reposition insurance to combat climate change" and to encourage other governments and global entities to follow suit. From the press release: "Endorsed by the UN Secretary-General and insurance industry CEOs, the Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI) serve as a global framework for the insurance industry to address environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities—and a global initiative to strengthen the insurance industry’s contribution as risk managers, insurers and investors to building resilient, inclusive and sustainable communities and economies on a healthy planet." The live discussion took place during the U.N. COP 27 climate meeting in Sharm-El-Sheik, Egypt, with Commissioner Lara, Butch Bacani of U.N. PSI, and California environmental leaders.
Read a press release at https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2022/release080.cfm, event listed at https://www.unepfi.org/industries/insurance/psi-cop27-sustainable-insurance-series/.
Our campus was a co-host of the event and Dr. Eric Riggs, Dean of the College of Natural Resources and Sciences, Cal Poly Humboldt was a speaker at the event.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.