Campus Advisory Committee on Sustainability

The Campus Advisory Committee on Sustainability (CACS) brings together academic programs, capital planning and campus operational interests to create a holistic perspective for advising on advancements that will continue to strengthen UC Davis' global recognition as a leader in sustainability and environmental stewardship.  The committee's charges are outlined below. For more information, download the charge letter.

• Members 
• Subcommittees 
• Meeting Summaries

Committee Charge:

• Recommend goals and actions that define and advance UC Davis' position on climate, environmental and social sustainability
• Identify local and global partnership opportunities for sustainability, and identify best practices for alignment with organizations and communities that share campus goals in this area
• Increase exposure for sustainability efforts on campus and incorporate frameworks, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in decision-making and action plans related to sustainability
• Identify external resources and strategies to leverage internal resources
• Identify and recommend diversity, equity and inclusion strategies and principles in all aspects of our sustainability programs
• Ensure active collaboration and alignment with the UC Davis Health sustainability advisory committee
• Identify and recommend assessment metrics to gauge progress toward achieving approved goals
• Prepare a plan to end fossil fuel use on each of our campuses

CACS Current Members

Co-chairs:

• Lucas Griffith, Executive Director of Campus Planning
• Jim Carroll, University Architect and Associate Vice Chancellor of Design and Construction Management

Past members:

2022-23: Mackenzie Field, Amelia Flack

2021-22: Alexandra Larman, Sydney Cliff, Taro Echiburu, Colleen McCormick, Dan Mendonsa (interim)

CACS Subcommittees

Climate Action and Resilience Subcommittee - Charge:

Advise on the preparation and implementation of the Fossil Fuel-Free Pathway Plan (FFFPP). Advise on practices and methods to address current and future climate injustices on campus. Advise on addressing resiliency and adaptation strategies, as well as mitigation strategies for the UC Davis Climate Action and Resiliency Plan, including, but not limited to, physical and fixed assets, supply chain and sustainable purchasing, housing, and travel and commuting practices. Advise on carbon offsets. Propose and advise on local and regional partnerships that advance collective goals regarding things like carbon removal, or transportation. Incorporate diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion into the subcommittee’s work. This is a standing subcommittee, until further decision by the CACS.

Engagement Subcommittee - Charge:

Center diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and environmental/climate justice into the subcommittee’s work. Advise on engagement strategies, methods, and opportunities for the CACS. Collaborate with the Sustainability office on engagement events, as appropriate. Partner with communications units on campus to share sustainability news. Advise and assist the Sustainability office and other units on campus on ways for the community to see and participate in sustainability efforts on campus. Propose ideas for programs to informally educate and to create a culture of sustainability at UC Davis. Propose and advise on campus, local and regional partnership opportunities to align and advance sustainability goals and collaboration, including through a lens of UC Davis as an anchor institution. This is a standing subcommittee, until further decision by the CACS.

Performance Subcommittee - Charge:

Advise on prioritizing the highest-level opportunities and performance gaps identified in the STARS gap analysis and the Voluntary University Review findings; assist in developing short-term and long-term strategies. Propose actions and implementation to improve campus sustainability. Investigate and align data sources to maximize use for cross-cutting purposes. Provide input to the Academic Senate and Academic Federation on possible opportunities to advance teaching and research on sustainability. Review proposed and existing policies and provide recommendations to the Sustainability office and the Chancellor’s Leadership Council to meet or exceed the policy requirements. Advise and assist in developing guidance for best practices on campus in all areas of sustainability. Incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and environmental/climate justice into the subcommittee’s work. This is a standing subcommittee, until further decision by the CACS.

2022 Meeting Summaries

• June 23, 2022
• The CACS met to deliberate and decide on the three subcommittees to form for the purpose of extending the influence of the CACS and assisting the committee in the work of advancing sustainability at UC Davis. The CACS developed three subcommittees, listed above. Each CACS member will serve on one subcommittee. The co-chairs will serve on all of the subcommittees. External subject matter experts and stakeholders will be invited to join the subcommittees.
• May 2022

• The CACS sponsored and led three events, and participated in an event led by the College of Biological Sciences. Those events included: an outreach table at the Thank Goodness for Staff (TGFS) event (May 11); the CACS co-chairs participated on a panel discussion following a film screening on fossil-free UC (May 13); and two Town Halls on the Fossil Fuel-Free Pathway Plan, one at the Davis campus and one at the Sacramento campus (May 17 and 19).

  Report on the CACS Table at TGFS: Campus staff were invited to share their written comments on what a Fossil Fuel-Free UC Davis means to them on two large easel boards. The CACS definition of fossil fuel-free and the vision statement for the plan were presented on the table, and verbally shared with table visitors. Information was shared about the film screening and the two Town Halls.

  Report on the CACS Town Halls: Both Town Halls began with a presentation of the CACS definition and vision, campus actions to date, and plans for the Fossil Fuel-Free Pathway Plan, followed by questions from attendees. The Davis campus event was entirely in-person; questions were asked and addressed regarding the co-generation plant at the Medical Center, plans for the next steps of the Big Shift, use of carbon offsets, and steps for the FFFPP. The Sacramento campus event included a Zoom option as well; questions were asked and addressed regarding biogas, commuting, electrical plug options for food trucks/blood drive trucks (in lieu of generators), and on-campus housing.

• April 26, 2022

• The CACS finalized the definition of fossil fuel-free and the vision statement for the Fossil Fuel-Free Pathway Plan, discussed logistics and plans for outreach and engagement activities in May, and began discussion about subcommittees formation.

• March 29, 2022

• The Committee discussed planning for Town Halls during spring quarter about the UC Davis Fossil Fuel Free Pathway Plan, to cover the Committee's definition of fossil fuel-free, vision for the plan, UC Davis emissions, and climate actions to date, and solicit campus community feedback.

  - Town Halls will be set for late April or May, depending on room availability.

  The 2020 UC Davis STARS Report gap analysis was presented, together with findings and opportunities for improvement.
  
  An overview of the Sustainable Development Goals, and the UC Davis Voluntary University Review and findings were presented.
  
  The Committee decided to hold a separate work session to develop subcommittees.

• Ad hoc meeting March 10, 2022

• The CACS met in-person at the Putah Creek Lodge. No hybrid option was available.

  Agenda was to continue discussion started at February 22, 2022 meeting, using the work done at that meeting. Meeting goals:

  - Set definition of fossil fuel free

  - Set vision of the Fossil Fuel Free Pathway Plan (FFFPP)

  Definition discussion: Discussed Phase Approach (start with all emissions sources under operational control) versus Magnitude Approach (pick the biggest sources of emissions, regardless of level of operational control); after discussion, group opted for Phase Approach

  Vision discussion: How do we define a successful plan and how is success measured?

  Suggestion that CACS get a booth/table at TGFS to outreach to staff – group in attendance agreed and this is adopted as an immediate action.

• February 22, 2022

• The CACS met in-person at Mrak Hall with a hybrid option available via webconference.

  Three agenda items were planned for this meeting:

  - Discuss and determine fossil fuel free definition and vision for the Fossil Fuel-Free Pathway Plan (FFFPP)

  - Discuss hosting a Town Hall for the UC Davis campus community on the FFFPP

  - Break outs to start discussing self-organized subcommittees

  After opening comments offered by the co-chairs (Camille and Jim), the CACS broke into four separate groups to discuss two foundational questions related to the concept of a fossil-fuel free UC Davis in support of the FFFPP. The two questions were:

  - What is the definition of fossil fuel-free?

  - What does success look like?

  The groups were not pre-organized for variety in the membership; instead they self-organized organically among those in attendance and those online.

  The groups met separately for approximately 25 minutes, then returned to the main meeting room to share their key points, and the full group engaged in discussion of these points.

  Discussion on this agenda item continued through the full scheduled meeting time. The CACS proposed an additional ad hoc meeting to continue these conversations on the FFFPP.

  - This additional ad hoc meeting was held Friday, March 10.

  - At the ad hoc March 10 meeting, attending members had further discussion of the two questions, and developed some key consensus points.

  Two remaining agenda items were tabled to the next CACS meeting (discuss hosting a Town Hall; begin discussing subcommittees).

  The CACS agreed to extend the typical monthly meeting to 90 minutes.

• January 25, 2022

• A 2022 Meeting Agenda Plan was offered to the Committee, as a "living" document that is expected to change as more information is shared among Committee members throughout the year.

  A fossil-fuel free pathway plan (FFFPP) charge was introduced to the Committee. The Chancellor has noted a requirement for this plan to be completed by the end of 2022.

  Background data was presented on key on-going sustainability efforts on the campus.

  Background data was presented on current UC Davis greenhouse gas emissions sources and climate action efforts.

  The Committee will start to review possible subcommittee organization, to assist the progress towards the FFFPP and other committee charges.