2020 - 2021: How We Got Here
The University of California's Carbon Neutrality Initiative was formed in 2014, following the UC Chancellors' commitments as signatories to a 2007 American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, and seven years of progress on establishing research and operational advances towards carbon neutrality and deep decarbonization.
The Applied Research Working Group of the University of California's Global Climate Leadership Council has been active since the declaration of the UC Carbon Neutrality Initiative, in enabling the knowledge and research advances necessary for the University to achieve institutional net zero emissions by the goal of 2025, and for advancing the science and solutions towards needed decarbonization across all spheres of society.
In 2019, all ten UC Chancellors and the systemwide President signed a climate emergency declaration letter that recognizes “the need for a drastic societal shift to combat the growing threat of climate change."
Now is the time for the University of California to harness the expertise of its faculty and the learning and engagement of its students and staff so that we may all work to protect our planet — the central challenge of our time. UC faculty are, and should continue to be, key contributors to the development of scalable solutions to climate change. Many existing campus initiatives, institutes, and research groups could serve as a starting point and nucleus for the efforts. Faculty from all corners of the University — social sciences, humanities, arts, engineering, and science — stand ready to deploy their expertise.
The Research Working Group's Renewed Charge
ARWG’s goal for 2020 - 2021 is to identify, support, and promote applied research that will help achieve UC’s 2025 carbon neutrality goal and provide a near-term pathway to a carbon-negative future. We will amplify UC’s most promising research solutions and identify strategies for aligning effective leadership and followership to drive a productive, secure, equitable and healthy future for people and the planet.
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Advance a Research Roadmap for Carbon Neutrality, Deep Decarbonization and Negative Emissions for Global Warming Mitigation and Adaptation, that will promote an Equitable and Just Societal Transformation.
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Continue challenge grant program for applied research projects that will mature, demonstrate feasibility, and scale-up holistic global warming mitigation and adaptation policies and solutions for UC and CA with climate justice and equity at the forefront. .
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Identify applicable UC-developed, multidisciplinary solutions that are ready for proof-of-concept or large-scale demonstration as well as UC-based startups with relevant solutions and technologies.
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Leverage UC assets and resources by fostering opportunities for external funding of research demonstrations which can shape global warming mitigation and adaptation, green economy, sustainability, just economic and societal transition and inequality reduction throughout California, the US and world.
Membership:
The working group has been for many years comprised of one member from each UC campus, affiliated national laboratory, and UC ANR. In recognition of the tremendous engagement and collaboration which is necessary to reach its goals, nominations were requested of the UC Council of Vice Chancellors for Research ,Sustainability directors, and current working group participants, for new applied research experts to join in the membership. A full roster of active and nominated participants is listed below. Additional working group structures will be established for committee work, and potentially for active participation by non-UC affiliated community-based and institutional stakeholders.
Among key goals and focus of group activities and members are to develop future research leaders who will foster innovative ideas and solutions, and to strategize research and funding opportunities which can be brought to the attention of the group.
MEMBERSHIP ROSTER (INCLUDES SPRING 2020 NOMINEES)
Roger Bales, Professor of Engineering (UCM)
Matt Barth, Professor of Engineering (UCR)
Ann Carlson, Vice Dean and Professor, School of Law (UCLA)
Sue Carter, Profesor of Physics (UCSC)
Steve Davis, Professor of Earth System Science (UCI)
John Elliott, Chief Sustainability Officer (LBNL)
Kian Goh, Assistant Professor of Urban Planning (UCLA)
Benjamin Houlton, Professor and Muir Institute Director (UCD)
Daniel Kammen, Professor in the Energy and Resources Group (UCB)
David Lea, Professor of Earth Sciences (UCSB)
Erin Marnocha, Research and Education Director (UC NRS)
Beth Rose Middleton, Professor and Chair, Native American Studies (UCD)
Tracey Osborne, Associate Professor, Management of Complex Systems (UCM)
Susana Ramirez, Associate Professor of Communications (UCM)
Daniel Sanchez, Agricultural Exztension Specialist (UCB)
Nan Sauer, Associate Director, Chemistry, Life and Earth Sciences (LANL)
Antoun Tarabay, Dvision Leader, Atmosphere, Energy Earth (LLNL)
Kelly Turner, Assistant Professor of Urban Planning (UCLA)
David Victor, Professor of International Relations (UCSD)
Max Wei, Research Scientist, Energy Analysis and Environmental Impacts (LBNL)
Sheri Weiser, Professor of Medicine (UCSF)
Co-Chair Ken Janda, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry (UCI)
Co-Chair Pramod Khargonekar, Vice Chancellor for Research (UCI)
ARWG HISTORY: The system wide applied research working group (ARWG), comprised of faculty and researchers from the UC campuses and affiliated national laboratories, was formed in 2014 under the auspices of the new UC Global Climate Leadership Council which oversees the Carbon Neutrality Initiative. At an inaugural systemwide research workshop held at UC Santa Barbara, the ARWG developed a research roadmap for carbon neutrality, which identified. the areas of deep energy efficiency; renewable power and integrated systems; renewable alternative to natural gas; and policy, behavior and economics as central to the achievement of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. Steps towards progress on the behavioral and policy dimensions of 2025 carbon neutrality can be found in the report, Carbon Abatement Working Grounds Recommendations, TomKat Projects Recommendations.
The ARWG held a second research workshop and strategic planning session in Spring 2017, again at UC Santa Barbara, which identified the following areas as important for near-term focus: campus-based microgrids, advanced thermal networks for carbon capture, carbon neutrality scope 3 emissions and commuter traffic, and applied research experiences for students (with a particular focus on education and offsets). The ARWG also seeded the early efforts of the UC Bending the Curve research and educational collaborative, as well as the multi-institutional California Collaborative for Climate Change Solutions (C4S). Each year, the working group issues a Call for Funding for research seed funding, with focus areas of prioritization decided by working group members and co-chairs.
A third systemwide applied research workshop was held virtually via videoconference in June 2020, which identified the prioritization of trans-disciplinary projects that can take a holistic view of the whole-of-society transformation that will be necessary to achieve global warming mitigation and adaptation. It is important to imagine how UC research can contribute to a post COVID-19 economic and societal transition which prioritizes the core principles of climate justice and equity. In doing so, we will consider both socio-cultural and technology areas towards realization of a just and equitable societal transition.
Fostering UC Research Solutions for Carbon Neutrality, Negative Emissions, and
Climate Stabilization
Contact Info
Phone
University of California System
510.987.0623
kcjanda at uci.edu
pramod.khargonekar at uci.edu
research&innovation at ucop.edu
Ten Campuses, 3 National Labs, 1 Agriculture & Natural Reserve Division, Natural Reserve System