Cities & Towns

As the world continues to urbanize, we’re investigating and analyzing how communities of all sizes can be vibrant, just and sustainable communities for the health of residents and our planet.

Magazine

Story

UCLA earns top 10 spot among environmental science universities

Claire Griffiths

UCLA, already ranked the No. 1 public university in the country for the eighth consecutive year by the U.S. News & World Report, has now been recognized as the No. 10 university in Niche.com’s annual “Best Colleges for Environmental Science” rankings

Andy Kleinhesselink (left) prepares to give students a tour of Sage Hill at UCLA

Story

Polishing One of Westwood’s Hidden Gems

Maya Parra

UCLA Extension Landscape Architecture students took part in a hands-on charette to enhance Sage Hill, UCLA’s outdoor learning space. Their proposals aimed to improve accessibility while conserving native plants and wildlife, providing students with valuable real-world design experience.

In the News

Headline

Stephanie Pincetl for The Economist—How will calamity change Los Angeles?

UCLA IoES Professor Stephanie Pincetl discusses Los Angeles’ rebuilding efforts after the devastating wildfires for The Economist, asserting that the city should use this moment to address its housing crisis…

Old wooden house on fire by Mattias Bokinge, Canva

Headline

Daniel Swain for the Gaurdian—Strongest winds in over a decade could bring fire risk to southern California

UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain discusses the extreme wind event forecasted for Southern California for the Guardian, sharing how the strongest winds in over a decade could heighten fire risks…


Headline

Jon Christensen for Smithsonian Magazine—How the Arrival of an Endangered Bird Indicates What’s Possible for the L.A. River

UCLA IoES Professor Jon Christensen discusses the restoration of the Los Angeles River for Smithsonian Magazine, sharing how efforts to ‘rewild’ the Taylor Yard area have led to the return…

A view of the soft-bottomed Los Angeles River below the 400-foot-long Taylor Yard Bridge in Elysian Valley. The newest Taylor Yard parcel, currently fenced off as it undergoes toxic remediation, can be seen on the far right.

Headline

Rebecca Shipe for LA Times—Southern California’s bioluminescent waves are back. It may not be too late to see the electric blue nights

UCLA IoES professor Rebecca Shipe discusses the recent bioluminescent waves along Southern California’s coast for Los Angeles Times, sharing how a massive algae bloom has created dazzling displays of electric…

Beachgoers watch and record images of bioluminescent waves breaking in Huntington Beach on Jan. 2, 2024. Bioluminescence is light emitted by living things through chemical reactions in their bodies. 

Headline

Daniel Swain for The Hill — Why Hurricane Milton became so intense so fast — and why more storms may do the same

UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain discusses the rapid intensification of hurricanes for The Hill, sharing how warming oceans are contributing to stronger storms like Hurricane Milton. Swain explains that hurricanes…

Videos

UCLA’s Comprehensive Sustainability Plan

UCLA has a long history of sustainability leadership — from early energy efficiency efforts and the formation of the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability in the 1990s, to the establishment of…

How Climate Change Will Impact California, Interview with Dr. Alan Barreca

Interview on The Young Turks ScIQ with UCLA environmental economist Alan Barreca by Jayde Lovell about climate change effects on public health, vulnerable communities, and the state of California. They also…

Publications



Quantifying the electric service panel capacities of California’s residential buildings

Eric Daniel Fournier, Robert Cudd, Samantha Smithies, Stephanie Pincetl

Published Work | 2024 | Energy Policy

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