Sustainable LA Grand Challenge attends Los Angeles Business Council 2016 Sustainability Summit

April 29, 2016
(From Left to Right) Cassie Rauser, Sarah Bryce, and Nurit Katz at the LABC 2016 Sustainability Summit.
(From Left to Right) Casandra (Cassie) Rauser, Sarah Bryce, and Nurit Katz at the LABC 2016 Sustainability Summit.

The UCLA Sustainable LA Grand Challenge (SLA GC) was a sponsor of the Los Angeles Business Council 2016 Sustainability Summit, which the team also attended. Speakers included leaders from city and county government, industry and utilities. One highlight of the event was an annual review from the LA Mayor’s Office on the status of the Sustainable City pLAn – Angelenos have reduced water usage by 19% year on year, LA has the most installed solar of any city in the US, and LA has reduced GHGs by 20% since 1990.

Despite these successes, the county has a long way to go, in both technology and policy, to achieve the SLA goals. On water in particular, Felicia Marcus, Chair of the California State Water Resources Control Board outlined the severe challenges that LA County faces with loss of snowpack, population growth, inadequate infrastructure and non-integrated water management.

Summits such as this are an important opportunity for the Sustainable LA team to meet stakeholders from industry, policy and finance working across LA County, as the path to sustainability is cross-cutting.