https://www.climate.calpoly.edu/

Cal Poly Initiative for Climate Leadership and Resilience, 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA (2026)

02/02/2026

Introducing our next speaker for the upcoming conference (2/23-2/27): Catherine Garton, PhD candidate at Stanford University!

Her talk, "Lessons in Political Psychology: A Toolkit for the Modern Citizen," will take place from 9:10-10:05 am PT on Monday, February 23.

This lecture will discuss key findings from the modern science of political psychology. This knowledge can help engaged citizens understand the current political context, how and why we are divided, and how to bridge divides and have better conversations about divisive topics, including climate change.

View the conference agenda: https://whova.com/embedded/event/irrwSrJJy5XAc22gEkfnWYRb1vPpT9-PuSHRqVHslZU%3D/?refer=undefined&day=0

Register for Climate Solutions Now here: I@X3cBpgqYDHVqSWZJc9/" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://whova.com/portal/registration/I@X3cBpgqYDHVqSWZJc9/

01/28/2026

Introducing our next speaker for the upcoming virtual conference (2/23-2/27): Ron Simpson, Process Energy at Alterra !

His talk, "Solving Plastic Pollution Through Infinitely Recycled Plastic," will take place from 11:10-11:35 am PT on Friday, February 27th.

Plastics play an essential role in our modern world, from keeping food fresh and safe, to enabling life-saving medical devices, to making cars and airplanes lighter and more efficient. Their versatility, durability, and lightweight nature make them vital to innovation, health, and sustainability. Instead of plastics ending up in landfills or the environment, at Alterra we’re advancing a new solution: Inficycling – an innovative process that transforms hard-to-recycle plastics back into valuable materials, over and over again, keeping materials in use and out of nature. Our cutting-edge technology is helping disrupt the story of plastics from one of pollution to one of possibility, reducing waste and creating a truly circular economy.

View the conference agenda: https://whova.com/embedded/event/irrwSrJJy5XAc22gEkfnWYRb1vPpT9-PuSHRqVHslZU%3D/?utc_source=ems

Register for Climate Solutions Now here: I@X3cBpgqYDHVqSWZJc9/" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://whova.com/portal/registration/I@X3cBpgqYDHVqSWZJc9/

11/10/2025

Support the next generation of sustainable changemakers by donating or sponsoring student scholarships for the Climate Solutions Now conference (February 23-27, 2026)!

Climate Solutions Now is an all-virtual conference at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) that includes several talk tracks running in parallel on various themes related to climate change and sustainability. It is open to everyone everywhere, but our primary audience is college students from across CA. Our goal is to make students aware of work being done on the various aspects of the world’s biggest problem, and get them excited about getting engaged in a manner that befits their particular skills and interests.

With a $50 donation, you would sponsor two student scholarships.

Learn more about Climate Solutions Now: https://climate.calpoly.edu/climate-solutions

Donate and sponsor a scholarship here: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/699/bp19/interior.aspx?sid=699&gid=1&pgid=961&cid=2272&bledit=1&dids=680&amount=50

If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

06/04/2025

We're thrilled to announce that our fifth annual Climate Solutions Now conference will be held from February 23-27, 2026! We are also now accepting proposals from potential speakers through August 15th.

This all-virtual conference will include several talk tracks running in parallel on various themes related to climate change and sustainability.

The main goals or themes for the conference are:
- Make students aware of work being done on the various aspects of the world’s biggest problem, and get them excited about getting engaged in a manner that befits their particular skills and interests.
- Promote communication between scientists, engineers, government employees, practitioners, entrepreneurs, and communities and local stakeholders who are addressing climate change and sustainability challenges.

Learn more about the conference: https://climate.calpoly.edu/climate-solutions

We are now accepting proposals for talks centering climate solutions and topics including but not limited to: agriculture and food systems, built environment, built environment, business sustainability, climate communications, campus sustainability, energy, environmental justice, forestry, policy, science and education, transportation and planning, and water.

Learn more and submit your session proposal by August 15th: https://forms.gle/MRdkpJNq7Xc8q6Z7A

02/28/2025

🌊 Join the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council! 🌿

NOAA has officially announced a 60-day recruitment period for community seats on the newly forming Sanctuary Advisory Council for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. This is an incredible opportunity to help shape the management and future of this important sanctuary.

The advisory council will provide community-based advice and serve as a bridge between local communities and the sanctuary. Seats available include:

- Indigenous Cultural Knowledge (2)
- Public-at-Large (San Luis Obispo & Santa Barbara Counties)
- Conservation, Education, Research
- Tourism & Recreation
- Ports, Harbors, & Maritime Transportation
- Offshore Energy & Telecommunications
- Commercial & Recreational Fishing
- Student Leadership (non-voting)

In addition to these, voting and non-voting government seats will represent tribal, local, state, and federal agencies.

If you or someone you know is passionate about marine conservation, cultural heritage, or sustainable use of ocean resources, we encourage you to apply!

📅 Applications are due by March 7, 2025. For more information and application details, visit:
👉 sanctuaries.noaa.gov/chumash-heritage/advisory

Let’s work together to ensure this sanctuary thrives for generations to come! 💙

[Photo credit: Robert Schwemmer]

02/05/2025

Today is Day 3 of ! Register today to access the next 3 days and 50 sessions of content, and to access recordings of all talks from February 3-7.

Please join us tomorrow, Thursday 2/6, at 2:10 pm PT for a talk with Kai Burrus, Aritree Samanta, and Autumn Thoyre (Co-Directors of Climate HQ at San Francisco State University): "Climate Leadership in Action: Transforming California's Future through CSU's Climate Change Initiative".

Abstract:

Join us for an engaging and collaborative exploration of the California State University's climate change leadership program. This interactive workshop will challenge participants to envision and actively shape the future of climate action across California's largest public university system. Through dynamic discussions and collaborative activities, we'll unpack our CSU - Climate Change proposal, highlighting its innovative approach to cultivating a diverse, interdisciplinary climate change workforce. Participants will dive into the critical mission of preparing 650,000 graduates to become climate change leaders, exploring how our campuses are already making meaningful impacts and envisioning the transformative potential of the proposed initiatives. We'll examine key strategies including climate change curriculum development, research grants, student fellowships, and cross-campus collaborations that aim to create a more equitable and comprehensive approach to addressing climate challenges. This workshop is designed for students, faculty, and staff who are passionate about climate action and eager to contribute to systemic change. Come prepared to share your campus experiences, dream big about potential solutions, and provide critical feedback that will help shape the future of climate leadership in the CSU system.

View the conference agenda: tinyurl.com/csn25agenda
Buy tickets for Climate Solutions Now: tinyurl.com/csnticket

01/31/2025

Introducing our next plenary speaker for the upcoming virtual conference (2/3-2/7): Terry Tamminen, President and CEO of AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles!

Terry Tamminen is the President/CEO of the non-profit “blue economy” hub AltaSea in the Port of Los Angeles. In 2003, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed him Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency and later Cabinet Secretary, the Chief Policy Advisor to the Governor. He cofounded the R20 Regions of Climate Action, a public-private partnership working globally to deploy climate solutions at scale, and provides climate policy advice to 7th Generation Advisors, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, Pegasus Capital Advisors, and the UN Green Climate Fund. An accomplished author, Terry’s books include “Watercolors: How JJ the Whale Saved Us” and “Cracking the Carbon Code: The Keys to Sustainable Profits in the New Economy”. The Guardian ranked Terry No. 1 in its “Top 50 People Who Can Save the Planet.”

Talk Abstract:

Solutions to our climate and sustainability challenges are proliferating at an unprecedented rate, driven largely by rapidly declining technology costs, fast-approaching regulatory deadlines, and the steady drumbeat of headlines featuring costly storms, floods, droughts, crop failures, and human health impacts.

Despite this progress, our world is falling short of its goals, especially the widely accepted need to prevent global temperatures from warming more than 1.5 degrees centigrade. To address this shortfall, large sectors of the economy will need to rapidly decarbonize; new sources of clean renewable energy will need to be developed; carbon pollution will need to be removed from the atmosphere and ocean; and a new generation of uniquely skilled workers will need to be inspired, educated, and trained. All of this will require innovative financing mechanisms, especially in the global “south”, and a means to deploy those solutions rapidly.

The presentation offers a bold new way to achieve these critical goals by harnessing the power of the largest ecosystem on the planet: our oceans. The concepts presented show how unique partnerships can:

· Rapidly accelerate ocean climate technology deployment globally
· Bring equitable jobs and business opportunities to developing countries and regions
· Harness innovative financing vehicles to scale up and de-risk ocean climate solutions

View the conference agenda: tinyurl.com/csn25agenda
Buy tickets for Climate Solutions Now**: tinyurl.com/csnticket

The conference starts Monday! Make sure to grab your ticket now so you don't miss any cool climate content.

01/31/2025

How do climate solutions and communications coincide? Learn all about it from experts on the Communications track at Climate Solutions Now (all-virtual, Feb 3-7):

- Rachel Nelson (Director and Chief Curator, University of California, Santa Cruz Institute of the Arts and Sciences): "Art, Science, and an Aesthetics of Resilience"

- David Andrews (Acting Chief Science Officer, Environmental Working Group): "Inspiring action with science and maps to address the intersection of climate change and chemical pollution"

- Don Maruska (Author, “Solve Climate Change Now: Do What You Love for a Healthy Planet”): "The Death and Dying of the Fossil Fuel Culture"

- Don Carr (Media Director, Alliance for the Great Lakes): "Environmental storytelling"

- Marissa Miller (Senior Coordinator for Surf Conservation and Coastal Fisheries, Conservation International): "Using surfing as a motivator for protecting critical carbon-storing coastal ecosystems"

- Dr. Lauren R. Kolodziejski (Department Chair and Associate Professor of Communication Studies, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo): "Greenwashing and the Paradox of Sustainable Consumption"

- Emily Kubiak (Energy Management Engineer, Snohomish County PUD): "Geeking Out for the Greater Good: How Technical Data is Communicated to Inspire Building Efficiency Actions"

View the conference agenda: tinyurl.com/csn25agenda

Buy tickets for Climate Solutions Now: tinyurl.com/csnticket

01/29/2025

Introducing our next plenary speaker for the upcoming virtual conference (2/3-2/7): Dr. Marcius Extavour, Senior Partner at Ode and Founder of Extempo Media!

Dr. Extavour is a communicator and creative technologist who builds and deploys climate and energy solutions. As a Senior Partner at Ode, he combines data engineering and ML/AI, with remote sensing, creative design, deep subject matter expertise, and storytelling to build tangible products and companies. In past, he established the TIME Climate 100 at TIME, after building an innovation practice centered on energy, climate, and carbon management at XPRIZE as Chief Scientist and Executive VP for nearly a decade. In 2019, he was named a 2019 VERGE Vanguard Fellow as one of 20 dreamers, pioneers, entrepreneurs and others leading the clean economy.

His plenary talk is titled "The Future of Climate Innovation - More Than You Think" and will take place at 8:10 am PT on Thursday, February 6th.

Talk Abstract:

We are entering a new era of climate solution making. This emerging era centers social and economic opportunity to improve quality of life for our communities, even as we address the causes and symptoms of dangerous climate change. Despite recent headwinds in US politics, the rise of AI data centers, and record global mean surface temperatures, all is not lost. This talk will explore the new coalitions, technology innovations, and social forces that give our generation the tools and opportunities to reduce harm, reduce emissions, and regenerate ecosystems as much or more than any previous generation.

View the conference agenda: tinyurl.com/csn25agenda

Buy tickets for Climate Solutions Now**: tinyurl.com/csnticket

**SALE EXTENDED! Save 25% on 3, 4, and 5-day tickets when you use the code "ICLR25FLASH" at checkout by midnight tonight.

01/27/2025

Introducing our opening plenary speaker for the upcoming virtual conference (2/3-2/7): Violet Sage Walker, Chairwoman at Northern Chumash Tribal Council!

Her plenary talk is titled "Weaving Ancient Wisdom with Modern Solutions: Indigenous Leadership in Climate Solutions" and will take place at 8:10 am PT on Monday, February 3rd after the conference opening at 8:00.

Talk Abstract:

In this talk, Violet will present the work of the Northern Chumash on climate solutions on the Central Coast, beginning with the recent creation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. Next, we will explore how our coastal tribe's traditional ecological knowledge, passed down through generations of living in harmony with ocean ecosystems, is now proving instrumental in developing more effective and environmentally sound offshore renewable energy projects. Drawing from our community's experience partnering with major energy companies, Violet will discuss how indigenous perspectives on interconnected natural systems have helped identify optimal turbine placement locations, and minimize impact on marine life migration patterns. Our approach demonstrates that meaningful climate solutions emerge when traditional knowledge holders are empowered as equal partners in renewable energy development. By bridging indigenous wisdom with modern scientific methods, we've created a collaborative framework that not only advances clean energy goals but also protects marine ecosystems and coastal communities. This model of indigenous-led climate action offers valuable lessons for expanding renewable energy infrastructure while honoring our responsibilities as stewards of land and sea.

View the conference agenda: tinyurl.com/csn25agenda

Buy tickets for Climate Solutions Now**: tinyurl.com/csnticket

**SALE EXTENDED! Save 25% on 3, 4, and 5-day tickets when you use the code "ICLR25FLASH" at checkout by Wednesday 1/29.

01/21/2025

How do climate solutions and business coincide? Learn all about it from experts on the Business track at Climate Solutions Now (all-virtual, Feb 3-7):

- Dave Hutchins (Program Manager, Biomimicry Institute): "Nature's blueprint for climate solutions"

- Brad Stevenson (Founder & CEO, Premiums for the Planet): "Premiums for the Planet: Transforming Insurance Into a Force for Climate Action"

- Sandeep Kulkarni (Vice President, Ubuntoo): "Sustainable packaging – is it truly possible?"

- Mike Ferrari (President, Consortium For Waste Circularity): "Transforming waste into wealth: Creating a circular future"

- Anelia Milbrandt (Senior Researcher, National Renewable Energy Laboratory): "Waste-to-Energy Technologies: Enabling Sustainability and the Circular Economy"

View the agenda: tinyurl.com/csn25agenda
Buy tickets here**: tinyurl.com/csnticket

**1-WEEK FLASH SALE! From 1/20-1/24, save 25% on 3, 4, and 5-day tickets for Climate Solutions Now when you use the code "ICLR25FLASH" at checkout.

01/20/2025

1-WEEK FLASH SALE! From 1/20-1/24, save 25% on 3, 4, and 5-day tickets for the all-virtual Climate Solutions Now conference (Feb 3-7) when you use the code "ICLR25FLASH" at checkout.

Learn about climate solutions being implemented in real time and the near future to get inspired, become educated, and find opportunities to get involved in this all-virtual 5-day event.

The conference will feature 6 plenary sessions and over 75 other talks on 13 parallel tracks:

- Agriculture and Food Systems
- The Built Environment
- Business Sustainability
- Campus Sustainability
- Climate Communications
- Energy
- Environmental Justice
- Geospatial Carbon Accounting
- Policy
- Science and Education
- Transportation
- Waste
- Water and Oceans

The conference is open to everyone everywhere!

View the agenda: tinyurl.com/csn25agenda

Buy tickets here**: tinyurl.com/csnticket

**Full-access tickets are only $12 for students!

Cal Poly Initiative for Climate Leadership and Resilience

02/02/2026

01/28/2026

11/10/2025

06/04/2025

02/28/2025

02/05/2025

01/31/2025

01/31/2025

01/29/2025

01/27/2025

01/21/2025

01/20/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category