About the UC System

The University of California Office of the President (UCOP) supports UC campuses, medical centers, research laboratories and manages programs that serve the entire UC system. UCOP coordinates activities that allow a complex and unique system to operate efficiently as one university, furthering its public interest, academic and research missions. It oversees and manages programs that serve the entire university system, allowing campuses to capture the savings and efficiencies that come from centralized operations.

UCLA Health is responsible for meeting the requirements of the policies and practices set forth by UCOP in the Sustainability Practices Policy.  There are policy guidelines in ten areas of sustainable practice: climate protection, clean energy, green building, transportation, sustainable operations, waste reduction and recycling, sustainable procurement, sustainable foodservice, sustainable water systems, standards for UC Health.

In 2013, UC President Napolitano declared that the University of California will be the first research university to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025. While we look for large scale solutions from the system level, we also work to improve our own operations and facilities to reduce energy consumption and take bold steps to implement renewable sources of energy. Additionally, on May 19, 2020, UC announced that its investment portfolios are fossil free after the sale of more than $1 billion in assets from its pension, endowment and working capital pools. At the same time, the office has surpassed its five-year goal of investing $1 billion in promising clean energy projects.

UCOP has also set a bold goal to achieve zero waste (defined as 90% diversion from landfill) for campuses, and 50% diversion for health systems with stretch goals of zero waste. In 2020, the University of California prohibited the procurement and distribution of packaging foam. The most recent policy commits all campuses and health systems to the reduction and elimination of single-use plastic items such as plastic bags, single-use plastic foodware accessory items and single-use plastic beverage bottles. In 2021, the single use plastics ban and policy went into effect. 

For more information, visit the progress section of this site.