Triton Leaders Conference 2024 Sessions

Be part of the conversation with the current and past mayors of Imperial Beach as they share their personal connections to our coastline and the fight for environmental justice. Learn the history of their activism and what it takes to lead change through a combination of cross-border politics, local NGOs and a whole lot of heart. Featuring UC San Diego alumni Paloma Aguirre, Mayor at-large for the City of Imperial Beach and Serge Dedina, co-founder and international lead at WILDCOAST.

Speakers

• Paloma Aguirre, MAS ’15
• Serge Dedina ’87

Jessica Graham ‘09, President of JG Global Advisory and Jamal Russell Black ‘16, Climate Economist, will focus on the importance of environmental justice from an international environmental security perspective and the need for an equitable green transition within the U.S. and beyond as part of the global community.

Speakers

• Jamal Russell Black, MIA ’16
• Jessica Graham, MPIA ’09

Hear from a diverse panel of speakers about sustainable procurement, its meaning and its environmental justice implications, locally and globally. Andy Hattala, UC San Diego HDH Sustainability Coordinator, will discuss sustainable purchasing, product evaluation, and purchasing impacts from the perspective of individual consumers and professional buyers.

Dr. Christopher Gopal, a lecturer at UC San Diego’s Rady School of Management, will help participants understand the complexity of global supply chains, assess their current sustainability, and their role in both perpetuating and mitigating environmental justice.

Professor Zheng Chen, from the Department of Nanoengineering, Program of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at UC San Diego, will delve into the intricacies of the design process for creating sustainable products and technology. This

Speaker

• Zheng Chen
• Chris Gopal
• Andy Hattala

Eminent science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson and conservation journalist Rhett Ayers Butler will speak about their approaches to communicate environmental issues to the public. Robinson and Butler will talk about their work, the importance of narrative and sound science when engaging audiences, and the challenges presented by disinformation.

Speakers

• Rhett Ayer Butler ’99
• Kim Stanley Robinson ’74, PhD ’82

Join us for a reflective presentation that touches upon how two UC San Diego alumni are bringing climate justice into their current roles at the University of Washington and the New York City Economic Development Corporation. This session will highlight their journeys from grassroots climate justice movement spaces to larger institutions with a focus on the challenges and opportunities in centering frontline communities in their respective portfolios. The session will include a conversation about theories of change for climate and racial justice and practice, including how storytelling can be used as a method for supporting community-led adaptation to climate change, and how power with environmental justice leaders can be meaningfully shared at a policy and program level at the municipal scale.

Speakers

• Sam Jung ’11
• Rishi Sugla, PhD ’21

In November 2022, world leaders convened at the 27th Conference of the Parties in Egypt to discuss global action related to human-caused climate change. In this panel discussion, hear insights from UC San Diego students about their experiences as they participated in last year’s high-level, multi-nation event (COP27).

Speakers

• Denise Alcantara, MAS ’23
• Michelle Guraieb
• Olivia Pereira, MS ’20
• Eesha Rangani, MS ’23

This panel will discuss the urgency and benefits of energy equity as we move to decarbonize our communities. We will discuss key national and state energy policy goals and how they are being implemented on the ground to advance environmental justice. We will also discuss opportunities to accelerate and improve energy equity based on community-level programs.

Speakers

• Roman Partida-Lopez
• Colin M. Santulli, MPIA ’11
• Sebastian Sarria MPP ’20
• Heather I. Shepard, MPIA ’95 (moderator)

With the rise in frequency and severity of disasters, the need for concerted efforts to address their impacts is critical. The University of California’s Disaster Resilience Network (UC DRN) was launched in 2021 to provide a platform for collating talent, matching UC resources with external needs, conducting research, and training leaders and researchers to contribute to resilience. Learn how this consortium informs action that considers all facets of prevention, preparedness, response and recovery — including the health, safety, socioeconomics, equity and environmental sustainability of communities.

Speakers

• Provost Ivan Evans
• Dr. Erin Noste

Join Lucero Weber and Cody Hooven for a discussion about their experiences fighting for environmental justice while working for non-profits, governments and the private sector. They will also discuss how to navigate the policy, politics and logistics of climate action at the local level. During this session, you will be encouraged to join the conversation, as you learn more about the dynamics at play in moving our community toward a greener, more equitable future.

Speakers

• Cody Hooven MAS ’08
• Lucero Weber ’19

The San Diego-based organization, Climate Science Alliance, will highlight their model for community-led climate adaptation. Led by two UC San Diego alumni, this session will highlight nature-based climate adaptation efforts, and show a sneak-peak from an upcoming film about Indigenous-led fire stewardship in our region. There will be a post-presentation discussion about how others can replicate the model and get involved in this important work.

Speakers

• Paula Ezcurra, MAS ’17

Moderated by Dr. Margaret Leinen, Director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, this panel of experts will discuss the global and local health impacts of climate and air pollution.

Speakers

• Wael Al-Delaimy, MD, PhD
• Pascal Polonik, PhD ’23
• VC Margaret Lienen (Moderator)

In this presentation, we will highlight the work of two recent recipients of the Environmental Justice in Underserved Communities Award — Antonio Catanzarite and Julianne Luong.

Speakers

• Antonio Catanzarite
• Jim Lin
• Julianne Luong
• Provost K. Wayne Yang