At emLab, we believe that for research to be impactful, it cannot exist in a vacuum. Our inaugural UC Climate Research Forum in Sacramento marked a significant step toward grounding academic rigor in real-world policy challenges. The forum featured a cross-section of University of California researchers and state leaders, highlighting the iterative process required between science and policy to move the needle forward on key climate issues in California.
The Policy Perspective
The forum began with a moderated discussion led by emLab’s Director of Climate and Energy, Kyle Meng. The conversation centered on a key challenge: how California can maintain its ambitious climate leadership while ensuring the transition remains economically viable for its residents.
- Jacqui Irwin (CA Assemblymember, District 42) emphasized that high utility bills are a number one concern for Californians and that high rates hinder electrification goals like heat pumps and EVs.
- Lauren Sanchez (California Air Resources Board Chair) highlighted the "three broad buckets" of challenges: federal headwinds, the accelerating timeline of climate impacts, and the essential mandate of affordability.
- Christopher Costello (Chief Economist at the Environmental Defense Fund) offered a global perspective, arguing that California's most significant contribution is its durable, long-term carbon price signal, which provides firms with the security needed to make deep, innovative investments in decarbonization.
Left: Kyle Meng moderates the opening session with panelists Jacqui Irwin, Christopher Costello, and Lauren Sanchez. Right (L-R): Michaela Clemence (event emcee), Christopher Costello, Lauren Sanchez, Jacqui Irwin, and Kyle Meng.
Climate Mitigation
A series of "flash talks" explored emerging challenges in the state's transition to carbon neutrality:
- AI data center locations, emissions, and electricity prices in California: Paige Weber (UC Berkeley) examined the projected growth of AI data centers in California as it compared with the rest of the country. They emphasized the need to empower local communities to manage the trade-offs related to grid reliability and emissions. Link to slides.
- Using Cap-and-Invest Revenues to Lower Electricity Prices: Kyle Meng presented research on optimizing the California Climate Credit. His analysis showed that shifting the credit to a "volumetric" rate reduction during the four hottest summer months could reduce electricity prices by about 20%, providing meaningful relief while encouraging electrification. Link to slides.
- Health and labor impacts of declining petroleum refinery production in California: Ranjit Deshmukh (emLab) shared findings on the decline of petroleum refinery production. While phasing out these major polluters is critical for public health as refineries contribute over 20% of air pollution emissions, he noted that refinery workers face a wage reduction when moving to other industries, highlighting the need for a just transition. Link to slides.
- Using California’s cap-and-invest program to incentivize carbon sequestration on natural and working lands: Robert Heilmayr (emLab) proposed a shift toward a binding cap for natural and working lands to ensure that carbon offsets represent real, additional, and permanent reductions.
Ranjit Deshmukh presents the “health and labor impacts of declining petroleum refinery production in California.”
Climate Impacts and Adaptation
The afternoon shifted focus to how California will adapt to the physical changes already underway:
- The unequal burden of climate change in California: Tamma Carleton (UC Berkeley) argued that climate change is felt not as a global average, but as localized extreme events. Their work uses high-resolution data to measure how the same weather event—like a heatwave—affects communities differently based on their resources and adaptive capacity. Link to slides.
- Reliability and Rate Impacts of Utility Wildfire Risk Management: Meredith Fowlie (UC Berkeley) examined the staggering costs of wildfire risk management, which are increasingly reflected in utility bills and further complicate the state's affordability goals.
- California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment: Climate Impacts to the Economy: Gordon McCord (UC San Diego) discussed their contributions to the Fifth California Climate Assessment, which aims to provide the state with a comprehensive view of the economic damages and adaptation opportunities across different sectors. Link to slides.
Deepening Our Impact
According to Chair Sanchez, California is a "North Star" for global climate action, and thanks to events like these which aim to foster a direct dialogue between researchers and stakeholders, we are working to ensure that as we work we do at emLab–and across the UC campuses–informs real-world policy needs. As we look for ways to pass the "baton" from research to implementation, this ongoing collaboration will be more important than ever.
