University of California, Los Angeles
PAE-24: Sustainability Policy Advocacy

UCLA recognizes that it is affected by the larger community it is a part of, and therefore engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability. For example, 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. http://www.dailybruin.com/index.php/article/2011/03/city_council_approves_plan_to_make_l.a._more_bikefriendly_add_200_miles_of_new_lanes The Luskin Center of the UCLA School of Public Affairs also led a high profile solar policy study commissioned by the Los Angeles Business Council and supported by a Solar Working Group consisting of leaders in the private, environmental, and educational sectors in Los Angeles County. Researchers mapped out an incentive plan, designing a Solar Feed-in-Tariff to radically increase the widespread use of solar energy in the L.A. basin among commercial ratepayers. http://luskin.ucla.edu/luskin-center/initiatives/sustainable-energy The Ralph and Goldy Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies promotes the study, understanding and solution of regional policy issues, with special reference to Southern California, including problems of the environment, urban design, housing, community and neighborhood dynamics, transportation and economic development. It is a focus of interdisciplinary activities, involving numerous faculty members and graduate students from many schools and departments at UCLA. It also fosters links with researchers at other California universities and research institutes on issues of relevance to regional policy. http://www.lewis.ucla.edu/about/aboutus.cfm The Sustainable Technology & Policy Program based in the UCLA School of Law and the School of Public Health has taken an active role at the regional, state, and federal level to promote a paradigm shift in legislation and regulation. For example, STPP Faculty Co-Director Timothy Malloy serves on the Green Ribbon Science Panel established under AB 1879 to provide the Department of Toxic Substance Control with advice in executing the law. Further, STPP developed a white paper articulating clear principles and practices for implementing AB 1879, and has been engaging in dialogues with business leaders, policy makers and environmental groups. http://www.stpp.ucla.edu/node/18 UCLA also participates in numerous environmentally-themed Applied Policy Projects, in which students in the school of Public Affairs address environmental concerns in the community.