The "Waste to Energy" project team won the vote for best small-, medium- and large-scale climate solution.
Focus the Nation UC Davis
World of Ideas Café
Green Democracy
January 31, 2008
4:30 – 7:00 pm
Freeborn Hall
Some climate change solutions are no-brainers, others take some figuring. Here YOU ask the questions, provide the feedback, and decide which solutions give the best bang for the buck.
Green Democracy Schedule
4:30 to 6:00
Arrive early to get a ballot, snack, and a seat. Solution conversation begins at 5:00. Teams will collect your questions and comments. They will try to pursuade you their solution merits your vote and explain why. Don’t linger at one table too long, there are many to visit. Our panel of policymakers will visit cafe tables. Submit questions to the policymaker’s panel in writing from 4:30 - 5:30.
6:00 to 7:00
Freddie Oakley closes voting at 6:00, and our policymaker panel assembles. Hear what climate change solutions are proposed by local and state leaders.
7:00 p.m.
Our café concludes with an announcement of the vote outcomes and recognition of the solution teams by ASUCD President Kareem Salem.
Solutions Teams
Number |
Team Name and Topic |
Team Leaders and Members |
|---|---|---|
1 |
Before the Well Runs Dry Conserving Water in the Urban Landscape to save H2O and Energy |
LEAD: Jeff Loux, UC Davis Extention |
2 |
GEMS Commercial and Industry Energy Management Systems |
LEAD: Glen Lewis, California Institute of Food and Agricultural Research, UC Davis |
3 |
Gimme Shelter Green Buildings |
LEAD: Bill Starr, Architects and Engineers, UC Davis |
4 |
The Mode Shifters Sustainable Modes of Transportation |
LEAD: Noah Hochman, Environmental Policy Analysis & Planning |
5 |
Cool Eaters Building Local Food Systems |
LEAD: Sean Smukler, Land, Air, and Water Resources |
6 |
Green Flush Water Conservation, Human Waste Management (Bio-toilet) |
LEAD: Jeanette Miki Tung, College of Letters and Science |
7 |
SLOW! (Sustainable Living...On Weekends!) Transportation |
LEAD: Christopher Congleton, Transportation Tech. and Policy, ITS |
8 |
Waste to Energy Dairy Manure Digester |
LEAD: Paul Martin, Western United Dairymen |
9 |
Bio-Transformers Anaerobic digestion of organic waste streams and co-production of electricity |
LEAD: Pete Dempster, Biological and Agricultural Engineering |
10 |
Confront Carbon at Home Residential Carbon Emission Abatement |
LEAD: Dan MacDonald, Energy Efficiency Center, Graduate School of Management |
11 |
The SOLAR Solution! Carbon tax, legislation and investment in solar research |
LEAD: Adam Moule, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science |
12 |
A New Climate for Environmental Justice Environmental Justice |
LEAD: Fraser Shilling, Environmental Science and Policy |
13 |
Fight the Bite The threat to public health from a longer mosquito season |
LEAD: Danielle Saenz, Exercise Biology |
14 |
The Pedal Pushers Bicycle Communities and Lifestyles |
LEAD: Katherine Hess, City of Davis |
15 |
Homegrown Biofuels- Thinking Globally by Acting Locally Biomass to Fuels |
LEAD: Sharon Shoemaker, California Institute of Food and Ag Research, UC Davis |
Policymaker Panel
Freddie Oakley, Green Democracy Vote Registrar, Yolo County Clerk Recorder
A resident of Yolo County since 1975, Freddie was elected as Yolo County Clerk-Recorder in 2002. A former Yolo County supervisor, she is nationally known as a critic of poor voting technology and frequently speaks on election matters. She is also an advocate for voters’ rights. A graduate of UC Berkeley and Yale, Freddie and husband John Oakley, professor at the UC Davis School of Law, are active in community issues with UC Davis.
Sue Greenwald, Mayor, City of Davis
We can improve cities in a manner that minimizes the use of fossil fuels by building denser, more walkable and bikeable communities; creating greener building codes; implementing and encouraging alternative transportation; creating incentives to conserve and recycle; and by facilitating the adoption of greener technologies. Davis city planning focuses on maintaining a vibrant downtown, neighborhood shopping centers and a pioneering bike lane system. Davis is embarking on a major carbon footprint reduction program. We ask for your participation, support, and ideas.
A.G. Kawamura, Secretary, California Department of Agriculture
Climate change threatens California agriculture with possible changes in growing conditions, increases in invasive pests and decreases in irrigation water availability. Although agriculture makes a relatively small contribution to the state’s total greenhouse gas emissions, we are developing strategies for reducing direct emissions from animals (primarily dairy cows) and capturing carbon in the soil through the use of cover crops and optimizing the use of fertilizers. Many of California’s crops are being evaluated for their ability to pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and for production of biofuels as alternatives to fossil fuels.
Helen M. Thomson, Yolo County Supervisor, District 2
I initiated the resolution for the Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration, which commits Yolo to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. We partnered with Deb Niemeier, Director of the John Muir Institute of the Environment, and her students, to study the county’s carbon generation and develop policies and strategies to reduce emissions. This partnership supports audit requirements for the county’s application to the California Climate Action Registry. Their Action Plan was presented and the recommended fleet management practices and policies were adopted. We are on our way and leading the region.
Lester Snow, Director, California Department of Water Resources
Our department is undertaking efforts to adapt to the impacts of climate change and to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with our operations. We are working to incorporate changing hydrology and the impacts of sea level rise in our flood and water supply planning efforts. We joined the California Climate Action Registry to measure our carbon footprint and explore opportunities to increase the use of renewable energy to operate the State Water Project.
Mariko Yamada, Yolo County Supervisor District 4
In January 2007, our Board established a Climate Change Taskforce to assess our carbon footprint; develop a plan and set targets and deadlines to reduce energy use and greenhouse gases; and engage community partners in addressing global warming. We are one of twelve charter counties to sign onto the “Cool Counties” Declaration, and joined the U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partnership. Yolo County takes climate change seriously!
Ruth Coleman, Director, California Department of Parks and Recreation
State Parks is one of the pre-eminent resources managers in the world. As such, we have the ability to engage the public in a meaningful way to help them understand the issue of climate change and to inspire them to take constructive action. We have organized our efforts into a State Parks Climate Change Initiative called “Cool Parks” which calls for estimating our current footprint, reducing our emissions, adapting to change, and providing education and interpretation.
Lois Wolk, California State Assemblywoman (D-Davis)
California is a leader in the fight against global warming. The Legislature approved landmark legislation by the Assembly Speaker, signed by the Governor, to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent. I introduced legislation last year requiring anticipated effects of climate change to be considered in our state and local water plans, as global warming poses serious risk to our state’s water supply and flood protection infrastructure. I also serve as the chair of the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife. This year, we will continue our efforts.
Mr. Gregg Albright, Deputy Director, California Dept. of Transportation, Caltrans, Planning and Modal Programs
(in place of Randell H. Iwasaki, Chief Deputy Director, California Department of Transportation)
We believe that by judiciously crafting a portfolio of solutions, it is possible to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions while expanding and creating an efficient and effective transportation system for current and future generations. The objective of our Climate Action Program is to encourage innovative ways to balance progressive program delivery within the context of responsible environmental stewardship in a way that all transportation strategies, plans, and projects contribute to the State’s greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
Mr. Perez, representative of the Energy Commission
(in place of The Honorable Mike Chrisman, California Secretary for Resources Secretary)
Chrisman oversees policy and a budget of $6.4 billion and 16,000 employees in 25 state departments, commissions, boards and conservancies. The issues run the gamut from conservation, water, fish and game, forestry, parks, energy, coastal, marine and landscape. Throughout his career, Secretary Chrisman has been the “go-to” person to facilitate solutions, locally and regionally. His commitment to agriculture and his unwavering passion for protecting the state’s natural resources established the foundation from which he has provided bold and compassionate environmental leadership. A fourth generation Californian, he is owner and partner of Visalia’s Chrisman Ranches, a family farming ranch in Tulare County.
John McCamman, Acting Director, California Department of Fish and Game
McCamman has been the Chief Deputy Director under Ryan Broddrick, who resigned effective August 31, 2007. McCamman was formerly chief of staff to California Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa), serving nine years in Washington D.C. while Congressman Radanovich served on the Resources Committee. Prior to that McCamman was County Administrator in Mariposa and Shasta counties.