Méndez leads press conference at UN climate change summit

Michael Méndez, assistant professor of urban planning and public policy, moderates a press conference called “California Leadership in Climate Justice” on Monday, Nov. 8, at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference being held in Glasgow, Scotland.


Event focuses on California’s efforts to advance environmental justice

Michael Méndez, assistant professor of urban planning & public policy at the University of California, Irvine, will moderate a press conference on California’s approach to integrating environmental justice into climate solutions at 1:15 p.m. GMT on Monday, Nov. 8, at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference being held in Glasgow, Scotland.

World leaders, scholars and activists are attending the summit, known as COP 26, to discuss ambitious policies to mitigate climate change. California has managed its share of climate impacts, including record-breaking heat, “megadroughts” and devastating wildfires – which disproportionately affect low-income communities of color. The state has taken bold action in its climate policies, trying to move away from fossil fuel consumption and advance environmental justice by implementing initiatives to protect residents from harmful pollution and build climate resilience in disadvantaged areas.

About two dozen delegates from California are scheduled to participate in various activities during the two-week summit, which started Oct. 31 and runs through Nov. 12. State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and California Assembly members Eduardo Garcia, Luz Rivas and Isaac Bryan will join Méndez for the press conference, titled “California Leadership in Climate Justice.”

After an introduction by Méndez, each will discuss how activist groups, policymakers and academics in California have collaborated on issues such as air pollution, poverty alleviation and green jobs to promote equitable climate solutions at the local, state, national and global levels.


Nov. 8, 2021 Update:

The press conference can be viewed on the COP 26 website.

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