2024 reflections: The year in review
As we head into the holidays and prepare to usher in 2025, Newsroom takes a look back at the accomplishments of the Bruin community and the highlights of 2024.
environment
Results
Can COP29 convince countries to pay for climate change disasters?
UCLA environmental law expert Cara Horowitz, fresh from COP29, outlines the difficulties in the climate finance discussion.
UCLA and the Port of Los Angeles partner to advance sustainability, research and healthier communities
The two institutions have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at creating new opportunities and a more sustainable future for the city.
Analyzing Trump’s Cabinet picks
By favoring loyalty over job experience, the president-elect’s picks could hinder his efforts to roll back climate-related regulations.
Q&A: How a second Trump term will impact environmental and climate policy
UCLA School of Law’s Cara Horowitz and Ann Carlson discuss regulations, litigation and California’s pivotal role.
Mountain fire ‘a suburban firestorm’ due to Santa Ana winds
California chapparal fire burns into urban Ventura County, showing need for strategies beyond fighting ‘forest’ fires.
Climate change parching the American West even without rainfall deficits
A new study finds higher temperatures increase evaporation enough to cause drought without any reduction in precipitation.
Nina Gualinga wins UCLA’s Pritzker Award for environmental innovation
The Indigenous rights activist was honored for her grassroots leadership and policy advocacy in the Ecuadorian Amazon and beyond.
Climate policy and the 2024 election
UCLA experts talk post-election climate policy; climate scientist Daniel Swain will hold a Q&A focused on the National Weather Service.
Will humans ever be able to control the weather?
UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain discusses weather modification, as well as contrails, conspiracies and solar radiation management.
‘Weather control’: ‘Office Hours’ with Daniel Swain
UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain will discuss California’s fire outlook and what’s real vs. fake regarding weather control.
UCLA engineers develop scalable process to decarbonize cement production
The new “ZeroCAL” method could remove 98% of the CO2 emissions associated with the production of lime for use in cement, the team said.
How the conservative Project 2025 could ‘wreak havoc’ – on a Trump administration
UCLA experts discuss post-election predictions for the presidential candidates, who have stark differences in their climate policies.
Election 360: The environment and Project 2025 – could it backfire for a Trump administration?
With stark differences in the climate policies of the two presidential candidates, this is a “make-or-break” election for climate policy, UCLA experts say.
Real-time Hurricane Helene analysis: ‘Office Hours’ with Daniel Swain
UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain will discuss Hurricane Helene in a climate context and California’s fire weather.
Get ready for long West Coast heat waves this fall
Signals from La Niña suggest we’re in for a hot fall, says UCLA atmospheric scientist and statistician Karen McKinnon.
California wildfires: ‘Office Hours’ with Daniel Swain
The UCLA climate scientist will discuss the wildfire situation in Southern California and Davis Fire south of Reno.
California legislative ‘drama’ and 2024 climate bills
UCLA experts address the unanticipated statehouse drama and Gov. Newsom’s project to lower gas prices through increased oil refinery oversight.
Major West Coast heat wave: Video ‘Office Hours’ with Daniel Swain
You know it’s hot – but is it unusually hot? Find out at 2 p.m. PT on Sept. 4 with UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain.
How to save a life
Why should we care about birds? UCLA staff member Álvaro Castillo’s reminiscence about rescuing a baby hummingbird reveals an answer for us all.
A bird’s best friend
UCLA’s chief sustainability officer Nurit Katz draws deep inspiration from nature — and hopes you will too.
In the company of birds
Birds, UCLA environmental humanities scholar Ursula Heise attests, have profoundly important stories to tell — if only we know how to listen.
How a UCLA sparrow population could be a blueprint for wildlife vitality in changing cities
Doctoral student Joey Di Liberto reflects on a nuanced breeding season on campus for the dark-eyed junco.
Birds shifting more in time than space as they adjust to global warming
Still, changes in phenology, latitude and elevation account for only a small portion of what’s needed to keep track with rising temperatures.