Urban Planning

Join CRB Nexus: Where Policy Meets Research for a live virtual discussion featuring Dr. Craig Clements, Dr. Michael Méndez and Dr. Nícola Ulibarrí as they discuss Wildfires and Natural Disasters in policy and practice.

In support of a vibrant community of practice, this event will NOT be recorded. When you register, a URL for the online event will be sent via email.

As part of West LA College’s Climate Palooza Week, UC Irvine Labor Center Research Director Iza Camarillo speaks alongside Mindy Chen of the Dolores Huerta Labor Institute and Robert Corona of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

The panel's host is UC Irvine alumna Jo Tavares ('23, PhD Earth system science), who is the director of the California Center for Climate Change Education at West LA College/ Los Angeles Community College District.

Session 1 of the UC Irvine Climate Collaboration Annual Symposium is "Wildfires Risks."

Recent events like the January 2025 Los Angeles fires underscore how quickly wildfire crises can escalate and how urgently we need integrated, forward-looking solutions.

At UC Irvine, the WINS (Wildfire Intelligence & National Security) Project is bringing together climate science, engineering, AI, and policy to rethink how we anticipate and respond to wildfire risk.

In partnership with the USDA Forest Service, WINS is building a new “wildfire intelligence” framework designed to deliver actionable, scalable tools for decision-makers, from emergency responders to urban planners.

This session will be in-person only.

SPEAKERS:

• Charles Luce, USDA Forest Service 
• Amir AghaKouchak UC Irvine Samueli School of Engineering 
• Richard Matthew UC Irvine School of Social Ecology, Department of Urban Planning & Public Policy 
• Yamin Qing, UC Irvine Samueli School of Engineering

Members of the UC Irvine Climate Collaboration's first cohort present their work - and the public is invited. Researchers and their partners share early outcomes, lessons learned, and emerging opportunities from these collaborative initiatives.

The flier lists all the projects that will be presented. Projects whose research teams include Department of Urban Planning & Public Policy (UPPP) scholars are:

• Wildfire Risk Projects (Professor Richard Matthew, who is director of the Climate and Urban Sustainability Program (CUSP) and senior fellow with the International Institute for Sustainable Development in Geneva), 9:15-10:45 a.m.
• Pocket Parks and Gardens Project (Professor Doug Houston and Assistant Professor of teaching Jessica Debats Garrison), 1:15-2:15 p.m.

Please note that the times listed under DATE include Registration & Coffee from 8-9 a.m. and Networking Reception & Students Poster Session from 5-6 p.m. The actual program begins with opening remarks by UC Irvine Climate Collaboration Director Brett Sanders at 9 a.m. and concludes at 5 p.m. following remarks by Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Hal Stern.
 

The Environmental Justice Collective presents a talk with Christopher Ihinegbu about his experiences at a doctoral student in the Department of Urban Planning & Public Policy. He is involved with Orange County Environmental Justice & Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples and was awarded the Faculty Mentor Fellowship for the current academic year.

University of California's Irvine's Climate and Urban Sustainability Program (CUSP), the UC Irvine Alec Glasser Center for the Power of Music and Social Change and the School of Social Ecology continue the Climate Justice Lecture Series with an insightful talk by J. Mijin Cha.

How did plastic become one of the most pervasive environmental challenges of our time—and what can we do about it?

University of California's Irvine's Climate and Urban Sustainability Program (CUSP), the UC Irvine Alec Glasser Center for the Power of Music and Social Change and the School of Social Ecology kick off the Climate Justice Lecture Series with an insightful talk by Daniel Cohen, an assistant professor of sociology at UC Berkeley.

Dr. Cohen will explore housing, political economy and social movements in the United States and Brazil. Then, Mukul Kumar, a UC Irvine assistant professor of urban planning & public policy, will moderate a discussion with Dr. Cohen.

Light refreshments will be served. Space is limited at this free event.

Richard Matthew, a UC Irvine professor of urban planning & public policy, director of the Climate & Urban Sustainability Program (CUSP) and a senior fellow with the International Institute for Sustainable Development in Geneva, is the keynote speaker for what organizers have dubbed "an insightful evening of sustainability."

Hosted by CUSP, IKEA Costa Mesa and the Orange County Power Authority, the free event brings together local leaders, businesses and partners to explore impactful sustainability initiatives and innovative solutions for the future of Orange County. Dr. Matthew and expert panelists share their knowledge on advancing sustainable practices in our communities. This event also offers an excellent opportunity to network with Orange County leaders and collaborate on driving positive change.

Moderator Tristan Miller of California Green Business leads these panelists:

A fireside chat with Martha Guzman Aceves, former U.S. EPA Region 9 administrator, and Justin Ángel Knighten, former FEMA associate administrator, this event is hosted by the School of Social Ecology, Social Impact Hub and the UC Irvine Climate Collaboration, and moderated by Michael Méndez, UC Irvine associate professor of urban planning and public policy.

Aceves has more than 25 years of experience in state and federal government, where she has focused on developing and implementing equity-based solutions in the energy, water, agriculture and environment sectors. As regional administrator for the U.S. EPA, she led efforts to protect public health and the environment for the region spanning Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the U.S. Pacific Islands territories, and 148 Tribal Nations. She led the listing of the first superfund site on the Navajo Nation’s- the Lukachukai district, coordinated the EPA clean up and recovery efforts in Maui, and led the enforcement efforts in Oahu requiring the Navy to shut down the 250 million gallons Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.