UCI’s Michael Méndez to lead press conference at UN climate change summit
Event will focus on California’s efforts to advance environmental justice
Irvine, Calif., Nov. 4, 2021 – 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.
The press conference will take place in the East Lomond Suite of the summit’s Durdle Door venue and stream live on Méndez’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ClimateMendezPhD. Information on media accreditation for COP 26 can be found here. Reporters may also send inquiries to press@unfccc.int.
About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu.
Media access: Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus ISDN line to interview UCI faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UCI news, visit news.uci.edu. Additional resources for journalists may be found at communications.uci.edu/for-journalists.
About the UCI’s Brilliant Future campaign: Publicly launched on October 4, 2019, the Brilliant Future campaign aims to raise awareness and support for UCI. By engaging 75,000 alumni and garnering $2 billion in philanthropic investment, UCI seeks to reach new heights of excellence in student success, health and wellness, research and more. The School of Social Ecology plays a vital role in the success of the campaign. Learn more by visiting https://brilliantfuture.uci.edu/uci-school-of-social-ecology/.
