Across the Los Angeles Community College District, sustainability is moving from conversation to concrete commitment. Through a forward-looking climate and sustainability framework, LACCD is aligning campus operations, curriculum, and community priorities with a future that is cleaner, more equitable, and more resilient for all students and residents.

The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) has embraced a sustainability vision that goes beyond incremental change. Adopted in 2020, the District’s Clean Energy and Sustainability Resolution charts a long-term course for climate action, environmental justice, and institutional leadership in sustainability. 

This comprehensive framework aligns with global, state, and regional climate goals—including California’s ambitious clean energy mandates and science-based recommendations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At its core, the resolution commits the District to achieving 100 percent renewable, carbon-free energy across all facilities by 2040, while integrating sustainability into energy, transportation, buildings, waste reduction, water systems, workforce development, and curriculum. 

“We believe that sustainable living—through teaching, practice, and community participation—can lead to a more enduring and equitable society.” 

Energy and Infrastructure: A Campus-Wide Transformation

Colleges are more than classrooms and lecture halls—they are entire ecosystems of buildings, transportation networks, technology systems, and shared spaces. The District’s commitment to carbon-free energy means transforming these systems with renewable power, energy efficiency upgrades, and sustainable design practices.

This shift includes expanding on-site solar capacity, improving building performance, and electrifying infrastructure that currently depends on fossil fuels. These changes reduce emissions and operating costs, while creating healthier indoor and outdoor environments for students, faculty, and staff.

Transportation plays a major role as well. By encouraging alternatives to solo car trips—such as public transit, walking, biking, and electric vehicles—campuses contribute to cleaner air and safer streets in surrounding neighborhoods.

Core Strategies Guiding LACCD’s Sustainability Work

LACCD’s approach integrates clean energy upgrades, zero-waste systems, green transportation, water stewardship, sustainability education, and climate justice—linking campus operations with student learning and community impact.

Energy & Infrastructure

Major upgrades to campus buildings are improving efficiency and reducing emissions. These include modern digital energy controls, expanded solar installations, and energy storage systems that support resilience and long-term cost savings.

Zero-Waste Systems

The District is advancing circular economy principles by increasing reuse and composting, reducing landfill waste, and phasing out single-use plastics. Food service operations are transitioning toward biodegradable materials to further reduce environmental impact.

Green Transportation

Campuses are preparing for a low-emissions future by converting parking infrastructure to support zero-emission vehicles and expanding electric vehicle charging. These changes encourage cleaner transportation options for students, faculty, and staff.

Water Management and Resilience

Investments in stormwater capture and groundwater recharge are helping campuses conserve water, reduce runoff, and strengthen local water systems—an essential strategy in a climate-stressed region.

Education & Workforce Development

Sustainability efforts extend into the classroom through green job pathways, workforce training programs, internships, and curriculum focused on climate change, environmental equity, and sustainability-related fields.

Climate Justice and Equity

Recognizing climate change as a social justice issue, the District’s approach prioritizes protecting frontline and vulnerable communities—ensuring that sustainability efforts contribute to healthier environments, economic opportunity, and shared resilience.

Aligning Education with a Climate-Responsive Future

A key strength of LACCD’s sustainability vision is its emphasis on education as essential to climate action. Sustainability is not treated as an add-on; instead, it is connected to learning outcomes and workforce preparation.

Across the District, a range of instructional programs already address sustainability themes—from environmental science and green technology to climate policy and community health. The intent is to broaden this base so students in all disciplines understand how climate and equity intersect with their fields of study.

This focus reflects a growing understanding: climate literacy and sustainability thinking are crucial for almost every career path students pursue in the 21st century—from business and public health to design and technology.

Centering Equity in Climate Action

Environmental equity is a central principle of the District’s sustainability framework. LACCD serves some of the most diverse and historically underserved communities in the region—neighborhoods that often face disproportionate impacts from pollution, heat, and infrastructure inequality.

By embedding equity into sustainability goals, the District is working to ensure that climate action benefits everyone—not just those with the most resources or visibility.

This includes workforce pathways that prepare students for careers in the growing green economy, and community engagement that invites students and residents to participate in shaping the sustainable future of their campuses and neighborhoods.

What This Means for Students

• Real-World Learning Opportunities: Students gain access to sustainability-related courses, internships, and hands-on experiences that align with emerging job markets in clean energy, green building, and environmental policy. 
• Healthier, Greener Campuses: Energy efficiency improvements and cleaner transportation options contribute to healthier learning environments and reduced exposure to pollution.
• Climate Literacy Across Fields: Whether in the arts, sciences, business, or technology, students benefit from a curriculum that prepares them to understand and address climate-related challenges.
• Community Engagement and Leadership: Sustainability initiatives open doors for students to lead change in their communities and represent their colleges in broader climate and equity dialogues. 

Beyond Policy: A Shared Responsibility

The District’s sustainability framework is grounded in shared governance and public accountability. It calls for transparent tracking of progress, campus-level sustainability committees, and ongoing dialogue with faculty, students, staff, and community partners. 

By embedding sustainability into its core operations and educational mission, LACCD is positioning itself as a model of how public higher education can respond to the climate challenge—anchoring climate action in both institutional practice and the lived experience of students.