CCEEB Honors the University of California’s Climate Action Leadership with the 2017 Pat Brown Award
California business, labor, and public leaders gathered on Tuesday to honor the University of California as this year’s Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Award Recipient.
The California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance (CCEEB) recognized the University of California for elevating pragmatic climate change solutions that enable and empower the state of California’s environmental leadership and economic growth.
UC President Janet Napolitano accepted the Pat Brown Award on the behalf of the University of California at CCEEB’s annual policy conference on July 18, 2017 in Olympic Valley, CA. In her remarks, President Napolitano said, “I am thrilled that the ongoing efforts of UC faculty, researchers, students and staff to protect the environment are being recognized through the Pat Brown Award. California has shown that we don’t have to choose between environmental stewardship and economic vitality. As California’s public research university, UC is at the forefront of research innovation and operational reforms that thoughtfully balance these priorities.”
The University of California has been deeply engaged in research and scholarship around climate change for decades, and has accelerated its efforts under President Napolitano. In 2013, UC committed to reach operational carbon neutrality by 2025. By 2016, it had made the largest purchase of solar energy ever by a U.S. university – 80 megawatts – enough solar energy for 27,000 homes.
As a public research university, the University of California tackles climate action on multiple fronts – undertaking basic and applied research, teaching, public service, changing its operations, investing in climate solutions, and being a model of positive change.
“It is no secret that the state of California relies on the work of the University of California for developing and implementing environmental policies and regulations,” explains CCEEB President Gerald Secundy. “Look at each campus; you’ll see world-class research and ideas being developed by UC faculty, students, and staff. California businesses are able to leverage this innovation in cleaner technologies and best practices, just like state and local agencies learn from the University’s forward policy thinking.”
The University of California is not only a leader here in the state, but also internationally. In 2015, a group of 50 UC academics and researchers organized a Carbon and Climate Neutrality Summit and produced the path-breaking report, Bending the Curve: Ten scalable solutions for carbon neutrality and climate stability. This report became a key part of the California state delegation’s messaging and contribution at the Paris climate agreement negotiations.
“The University of California’s leadership exemplifies the partnership between the University and the State of California that the late Governor Pat Brown and UC President Clark Kerr envisioned half a century ago,” says Wally McGuire, CCEEB Chairman.
About the University of California
The University of California is the world's leading public research university system. With 10 campuses, 5 medical centers, 3 national labs and a network of agricultural and natural research centers, the UC system includes more than 265,000 students and 1.8 million alumni living all around the world. UC is California’s third largest employer and boasts over 190,000 faculty and researchers, many highly-distinguished in their fields.
About the Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Award
The Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Award is named after the late Governor Edmund G. Brown, the CCEEB’s founding Chairman. The award honors individuals whose achievements best exemplify CCEEB’s mission of environmental and economic balance.
Previous recipients include State Water Resources Control Board Chair Felicia Marcus, State Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols, State Senator Fran Pavley, the late Tom Graff of the Environmental Defense Fund, the Walt Disney Company, and Governor Schwarzenegger with Speaker Fabian Nuñez and pro Tem Don Perata.
About CCEEB
The California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance (CCEEB) was founded in 1973 as a not-for-profit and nonpartisan coalition of business, labor, and public leaders that advances strategies for a sound economy and a healthy environment.
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