California has led the nation and in many ways the world in progressive environmental and social policy. However, the results of the recent election present numerous threats to California’s people, environment, economy and way of life.
This event will be different from the annual symposium PCL has hosted for many, many years. PCL aims to bring together diverse academics, advocates, and business and government leaders in a work-session focused agenda to develop and commit to specific strategies to be used in coming months and years to protect and advance California’s progress in environmental sustainability and social equity.
PCL wants the strategies that emerge from this day to unify our efforts within and across issue areas — and we intend for the convening to be a fully collaborative process, where your participation, and the participation of all attendees, is central and necessary.
This year’s PCL Symposium will be held at the McGeorge School of Law on February 23rd, 2019. This year, PCL will look to the future, as panel topics will address the next steps for California’s water supply, climate change, land use, transportation, housing planning, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
PCL’s Environmental Symposium, “The Future is Now… Moving on Land Use, Water and CEQA”, will bring together many local and state leaders to address what actions we can do to reach our local and state goals.
PCL’s first UCLA Symposium brought together many local and state leaders to address what local actions can do to reach our state and global goals and meet the climate change challenge.
With general agreement on the statewide challenge of too much unsustainable sprawl across California, participants worked together to create solutions. PCL/PCL Foundation offered a range of sessions related to how CEQA interacts with other environmental laws and policies to create a more sustainable California. In addition to offering legal credit (CLE) for attorneys for several panels, we also offered certification maintenance credit (AICP) for planners.
Against the backdrop of the Governor’s drought declaration, the 2014 Symposium brought together over 200 thinkers, doers, and decision-makers to discuss collaborative solutions to the current water crisis, and ways to move California towards a more equitable and sustainable water future. Attendees had the opportunity to hear about the prospects of a 2014 water bond from Senator Lois Wolk and Assembly Member Anthony Rendon, and had a chance to explore a range of perspectives on restoration of the Bay-Delta. The breakout sessions took an action-oriented approach towards coastal protection, the human right to water, water pricing, stormwater, and much more. The 2014 Symposium was one of our most successful ever, thanks to our sponsors, top-flight presenters, amazing volunteers, and engaged attendees.
For nearly 50 years, the Planning and Conservation League (PCL) and the PCL Foundation have been at the forefront of crafting some of California’s most important environmental protections. As a result of PCL’s work, California has been a leader in passing cutting edge environmental laws and policies from the California Environmental Quality Act to the California Coastal Act, and we have helped provide hundreds of millions of dollars for environmental stewardship through bond initiatives we have championed. Our goal is simple: improve the environment and quality of life for all Californians.
At the 2012 Symposium, the new One Vision, One Voice campaign was unveiled. This is the League’s effort to craft a clear and compelling “greenprint” for California’s energy, water, food, land use, and transportation future; and to then use this vision to mobilize broad based support through rebuilding our League, broadening coalitions, mobilizing communities, and even through the creation of a PCL/Foundation Alumni Club to harness the power of our nearly 50 years of advocacy. State Controller John Chiang was superb in his analysis of how Californians must shift their value to a blended value of environmental and economic progress. Experts from a variety of fields interacted with over 200 participants about how local solutions will protect our environment, strengthen our communities and rebuild our economies.
The 2011 Symposium brought together some of the brightest minds working on some of California’s toughest environmental challenges. Secretary Laird’s morning keynote address was standing room only and drew our attention to the plight of the state budget and how we could all rally together to be most effective in 2011. Our afternoon keynote, San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi spoke about San Francisco’s bid for the America’s Cup (an international sailing race) and the City’s commitment to comply with environmental laws. Leading experts engaged and informed over 270 participants, which included business leaders, activists, and students, about the status of and solutions for problems related to our most important environmental concerns.
On Saturday, January 30, 2010 the Planning and Conservation League (PCL) and PCL Foundation hosted a solutions-oriented Environmental Legislative Symposium. This annual event brought together 314 activists, business leaders, planners, policy and decision makers, environmental non-profits, students and attorneys. A diverse array of topics and solutions were showcased, and will be the springboard for conservation activities this year.
The Symposium theme for 2010 was “Greening California’s Landscapes: Smart Solutions for a New Era.” Event speakers and participants brought the most innovative, creative, out-of-the-box thinking and expertise to the table to solve our water, land use and global warming issues. A lot of new information was shared and these new solutions can now implemented in other communities.
Even with a struggling economy and frozen state grants program, the event brought together over 315 activists, policy and decision-makers, attorneys, land use planners and environmental non-profits and community groups. Great discussions, important workshops and new partnerships were forged in 2009 and will help us reach a sustainable California.
With a sold out event and almost 330 participants and speakers at the 2008 Symposium, it was one of our best events ever! Our thoughtful and inspiring keynotes came from Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi (below), Attorney General Jerry Brown, PCL’s own Gary Patton, Goef Syphers of Codding Enterprises and Senator Darrell Steinberg.
With nearly 230 participants and speakers at the 2007 Symposium, this event was a great success! We had speeches from Congressman Jerry McNerney, Senator Dianne Feinstein, and Senator Barbara Boxer to name a few! This annual event brought together over 230 activists, business leaders, policy and decision makers, environmental non-profits and attorneys.