As the 51st Anniversary of Earth Day approaches, California policy makers will gather at Chapman’s sixth Annual Public Policy Conference, Fighting Climate Change, hosted by Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 to examine the details of climate change policy and raise broad questions and solutions to the issue.

“The conference will focus its conversations on the responsible steps the state’s leaders need to take now, to ensure a greener and safer future in the next 50 years,” said conference organizer Fred Smoller, Ph.D., associate professor of political science in Wilkinson College.

Supported by a grant from Fieldstead and Company, the free conference will feature four sessions throughout the day including expert panelists discussing various topics, such as What Has the State Actually Accomplished on Climate Change? (9-10:30 a.m.), What Can Local Governments Do to Fight Climate Change? (10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.), How Do We Make Our Governance Equal to the Task of Fighting Climate Change? (12:30-1:45 p.m.) and What Can We Learn From Other Countries and Cities About Fighting Climate Change? (2-3:30 p.m.).

These questions will be discussed by top academics and professionals such as Kip Lipper (California Senate Energy Consultant), Dr. Aseem Prakash (University of Washington), Mike Houston (Chief Counsel for Southern California Association of Governments) and Dr. Eric Fournier (University of California, Los Angeles Center for Sustainability) just to name a few. (Learn more about all the panelists)

According to the 2020 Orange County Annual Survey, now more than ever, California residents believe California should be a leader in fighting climate change and largely support the states’ aggressive efforts to fight it. Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of those surveyed in the 2020 OC Annual Survey said climate change is a serious problem (51 percent “very serious”).

Register today to learn more about the 2020 OC Annual Survey and participate in this important discussion.