This is an urgent time for community colleges to respond to the climate crisis. Addressing rapid disruptions to our climate requires new approaches to our operations and programs.

Vision 2030 guides California Community Colleges' work on climate action. The system is advancing community college engagement with the three fields of climate practice: Workforce Development and Curriculum, Assistance to Communities for Climate Resilience and Sustainability in Facilities and Operations.

The Board of Governors has been a bold proponent of climate action, energy conservation, and other sustainability measures and has established policies since 2013. Since that time, the Chancellor’s Office has continued to make policy adjustments and in 2019 the Board adopted the Climate Change and Sustainability Policy. The 2019 policy laid a strong foundation for community college districts to align and guide their local-level work. Most recently, in 2021, the Chancellor’s Office revised the climate change and sustainability policy to reflect the needs of colleges and the perspectives of a diverse set of stakeholders. Guided by the Climate Action and Sustainability Steering Committee, the Chancellor’s Office created a new framework, the Climate Action and Sustainability Framework. The updated framework established systemwide goals and targets and integrated a comprehensive approach to leverage both colleges’ physical and social impact footprint.

Grant Opportunities

The Chancellor’s Office provides funding and training opportunities for colleges across the system through the Energy Resource and Sustainability Partnership (ERSP), which promotes energy efficiency and sustainability across the system. Learn more about grant opportunities through the ERSP Program and Funding website.