How Public Universities are Helping to Fight Climate Change, with Bruce Riordan

The Role of Public Universities in the Fight Against Climate Change Public universities like UC Berkeley have played a major role in developing climate solutions, from innovation in labs to policy initiatives. In order to create positive change in the climate space, science requires funding, which universities can provide. Further, universities, of course, educate, train, and interact firsthand with people who, in the future, will work in the climate space, putting them in an essential position in terms of climate education.  How UC Berkeley is Making a Difference UC Berkeley specifically has made several important contributions across all aspects of climate science, climate education, and climate solutions.  Some examples include Omar Yaghi’s lab and its discovery of a potentially revolutionary approach to carbon capture with COF-999, as well as the EcoBlock project in Fruitvale, Oakland, where Berkeley is helping to retrofit “residential homes to improve resilience, sustainability, and quality of life for all community members.” Further, Berkeley has established over fifty undergraduate courses related to climate issues. These courses and initiatives largely attract students because younger generations have significant firsthand experiences with climate change, including wildfires, heat waves, flooding, and air pollution.  Why Climate Action from Public Universities is More Important Now than Ever Before With the current uncertainty of continued federal government funding and support, some climate work may face limitations. Nonetheless, university focus on climate change is increasingly necessary to ensure that future generations of citizens are fully informed and well able to participate in a climate change constrained future. As explained by Bruce Riordan, director of the Berkeley Climate Change Network, “these problems require multiple disciplines,” and Berkeley is well positioned across multiple fields of study, research, and action,  recognizing that climate change requires integration of business, policy, and research and beyond.   About Our Guest Bruce Riordan is the Director of the Berkeley Climate Change Network, a collaboration of 300+ faculty and staff at UC Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley Climate National Laboratory working in the climate change space. The BCCN seeks to accelerate Berkeley’s research, education and service to meet the urgency of the climate crisis by connecting researchers for interdisciplinary projects, helping to raise money for climate research, and building connections between Berkeley academics and off-campus climate leaders across industries. For a transcript, please visit: https://climatebreak.org/how-public-universities-are-helping-to-fight-climate-change-with-bruce-riordan/.