Increased wildfire risk due to California rainstorms

Why new vegetation makes it important to prepare for fires

A new strategy for western states to adapt to long-term drought: customized water pricing
Drought Freeway Sign

Even after January’s storms, California faces a water-scarce future. A USC Dornsife economist and USC Viterbi engineer propose a way to test higher water prices as a conservation strategy without hurting low-income users.

Study unveils benefits of electric cars
An electric vehicle charging at USC

A team of researchers at the Keck School of Medicine documented the effect of adopting zero-emission vehicles in one of the first-ever studies in the field that reveals the association between ZEVs, air pollution and public health. 

USC’s emissions less than two-thirds of 2014 baseline, latest sustainability update reports
Chart: Total Absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 Emissions

USC’s greenhouse gas emissions last year marked a 31% drop compared to its baseline year of 2014, according to the University’s 2022 Sustainability Progress Report.

USC-led program awarded $15 million by U.S. Department of Transportation
A ship departs the Port of Los Angeles, the largest port in the U.S. (Photo: Shutterstock)

USC’s METRANS Transportation Consortium has been awarded a grant from the USDOT to lead the US Region 9 research, education and technology transfer program.

The Single Oil Spill that Can Disrupt the Global Energy Supply
LNG OIL TANKER SUPPLYING LIQUEFIED GAS TO THE LNG TERMINAL

A maritime area three times the size of the city of London holds the highest risk for oil spills in the Gulf which can have devastating consequences locally and globally.

Using Robots to Fight Toxic Algae
CHRIS DENNISTON AND ISABEL RAYAS ARE DEVELOPING WAYS FOR AUTONOMOUS ROBOTS TO LOCATE TOXIC ALGAE IN LAKES. PHOTO/EMILIA DODA.

USC computer scientists and biologists have teamed up to tackle harmful algae blooms using “smart” robots

USC saves 1 million plastic bottles from landfill
Dasani can bottles

The University announced in a November USC News article that it prevented 32 tons of plastic, or the equivalent of one million bottles, from being sent into landfills. 

Infusing Sustainability across USC
Carol Folt

In her end of year letter to the Trojan community, President Folt highlighted some of the university’s major achievements in sustainability in 2022.

Climbers clean up Joshua Tree National Park
Climbers volunteering in the Joshua Tree Facelift on October 22 pose in front of graffiti before cleaning the rock. (Photo by Michael Chow)

Climbers and locals came together to give the national park a makeover in the inaugural Joshua Tree Facelift event.