University of CaliforniaSanta Barbara

In 2020, UC Santa Barbara took several sustainability actions that also contribute to positive human health outcomes.

For example, it signed a pledge through the Center for Environmental Health to commit to purchasing safer furniture products to protect the health of the community and the global environment. The campus also replaced nearly all of its gas-powered grounds tools with electric models. This switch not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but helps mitigate workers’ respiratory health issues by reducing the inhalation of exhaust, toxins and dust. 

In spring 2020, UC Santa Barbara’s Edible Campus Program Student Farm (a partnership of the Associated Students Department of Public Worms, Associated Students Food Bank and the Sustainability Program) was determined to be an essential service and maintained operations through the COVID-19 pandemic. Portola Dining Commons also launched a food recovery program managed by Housing, Dining, and Auxiliary Enterprises. 

Additionally, Santa Barbara’s total operational greenhouse gas emissions were about 20% below 1990 levels, despite a near doubling in square footage. The campus expects to see its operational greenhouse gas emissions drop almost 50% in the upcoming year as it procures more clean electricity. In July 2020, UC Santa Barbara joined the UC Clean Power Program, which provides 100% carbon-free power. 

Last year the campus ramped up climate education with the launch of the UC-CSU Knowledge Action Network (KAN) NXTerra Digital Platform and Knowledge Action Network, co-directed by Dr. John Foran, a distinguished UCSB professor of sociology and environmental studies. The UC-CSU KAN for Transformative Climate and Sustainability Education and Action is a collaborative effort of UC and California State University educators to scale and intensify California students’ literacy in climate change, climate justice, carbon neutrality, greenhouse gas emissions reductions and critical sustainability.