Sustainability Summit - Save the Date for April 16, 2025 for our next event!
Discover how SDSU is leading the way in sustainability at the 3rd Annual Sustainability Summit, hosted by the President’s Sustainability Advisory Committee on Wednesday, April 16, from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Montezuma Hall within the Aztec Student Union.
This event will highlight the sustainability efforts on campus via our research, curriculum, operations, and student-led efforts. It will also feature an inspiring keynote address by Nalleli Cobo, a renowned activist whose grass-roots efforts inspired Los Angeles to ban new oil drilling and phase out existing sites—an effort she championed at just 19 years old after experiencing severe health impacts firsthand.
Open the image full screen.2025 SDSU Sustainability Summit Agenda
Check-in/Student Sustainability Project Posters/Transportation Plan Activity
Visit the check-in table to get raffle tickets. Free organic continental breakfast provided. View S3 sustainability research posters and comment on the SDSU Transportation Demand Management Plan's proposed measures.
Opening Remarks - Introduction from President Adela de la Torre and Awards
Emcees, Dr. Jessica Whiteside and Shefali Sharma, will kick off the event. Four SDSU Sustainability Champions will be honored by President Adela de la Torre and Vice President Chris Manning for their sustainability efforts. One award will be presented each to a faculty, staff, student and alumni member selected by the President's Sustainability Advisory Summit Subcommittee. Physical award created by SDSU art professor, Adam Manley.
1st Session: President Sustainability Advisory Committee Projects
Session will have several presenters from the President's Sustainability Advisory Committee discussing their projects from this year. The committee helps to make sustainability part of ongoing education, research, operations and outreach programs at SDSU.
2nd Session: Advances in Sustainability - Research and Curricular
This session will highlight SDSU faculty's work on sustainability within the research space and within the classroom.
Lunch
Free box lunches will be provided for those registered. Perfect time to walk around the hall and learn about student sustainability research projects on campus and provide your comments on proposed measures for SDSU's Transportation Demand Management Plan.
3rd Session: State and Regional Sustainability
This session provides information on state and regional sustainability efforts. It will have presentations on the College Area Community Plan, high speed rail, and more!
4th Session: Student Leadership in Sustainability
This session is entirely put together by SDSU students. Learn how students are hard at work making campus more sustainable.
Keynote - Nalleli Cobo
Nalleli Cobo led a grassroots campaign to permanently shut down a toxic oil-drilling site in her community in March 2020 at the age of 19—an oil site that caused serious health issues for her and others. Her organizing against urban oil extraction has yielded major policy movement within the Los Angeles City Council and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, which voted unanimously on bans of new oil exploration and phasing out existing sites. Nalleli’s story and leadership also inspired the enactment of SB 1137, which bans all new oil wells within 3200 feet of communities in California. Nalleli won the 2022 Goldman Environmental Prize, was named on the 2022 Time 100 Next list, California Energy Commission Hall of Fame, Activist of the Year, Agente de Cambio, and more.
Closing Remarks & Reception/Student Poster Session & Transportation Activity
Free organic wine with cheese and crackers. One last opportunity to view student sustainability research posters and comment on the SDSU Transportation Demand Management proposed measures.
Recap of the 2024 Sustainability Summit
SDSU President Adela de la Torre and the President’s Sustainability Advisory Committee were grateful to host the SDSU Annual Sustainability Summit event, held on Wednesday, April 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This event included presentations focused on advancing campus sustainability. Student initiatives, faculty efforts, and local San Diego issues were included.
Antonella Giorgi, Glen Brandenburg, Geoff Chase, and McKenna Avery received the Sustainability Champion Award, recognizing outstanding leadership and dedication to sustainability.
Review information covered in the Summit Slide Deck and also you can view the Summit Videos. If you have any event related questions, please contact [email protected].
