About this Event

The Center for Climate Justice is a University of California system wide initiative to address climate change as a social justice and equity issue.

Climate justice recognizes the disproportionate impacts of climate change on low-income communities and BIPOC communities around the world, the people and places least responsible for the problem. The UC Center for Climate Justice seeks solutions that address the root causes of climate change and in doing so, simultaneously address a broad range of social, racial, and environmental injustices.

The Center’s vision is a world where broad-scale climate action is driven by science and a systems perspective, with social and ecological justice at the forefront. We aim to center issues of equity in addressing climate change, working collaboratively with researchers, educators, NGOs, activists, policymakers, philanthropists, Indigenous and community leaders, and private sector actors who are fighting for climate justice in California and beyond. Through innovative research, transformative education, and public engagement, we are committed to empowering the next generation of climate justice leaders.

The Center for Climate Justice launch event will be held over two days, April 22-23, 2021, beginning on Earth Day. It will feature keynote presentations by food sovereignty scholar-activist Vandana Shiva and DOE Deputy Director for Energy Justice Shalanda Baker, a fireside chat with Green New Deal architect Rhiana Gunn-Wright, and panel discussions featuring California climate justice leaders, scholars and activists. We will also host a music and spoken-word celebration on the second day. We hope to see you there!