Celebrating the CARB’s 50th Anniversary
Today, the UC Davis campus hosted a wonderful conference co-sponsored by the School of Law. I was happy to attend and see an excellent opening address by California Governor, and environmental warrior, Edmund “Jerry” Brown.
The conference commemorated the 50 th anniversary of the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The event represents a three-way partnership between UC Davis School of Law’s California Environmental Law and Policy Center, the UC Davis Institute for Transportation Studies, and CARB.
Since its creation in 1967, CARB has been a model of environmental stewardship, pollution control innovation, and public service. Years before passage of the federal Clean Air Act, CARB pioneered the nation’s first air pollution emission limits and pollution control technologies for motor vehicles—accomplishments that served as a model for the nation and the world. More recently, CARB has led California’s multifaceted strategy to curb the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, again serving as both an inspiration and model for the global community.
The conference at UC Davis both celebrated CARB’s past accomplishments and identified the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the board. Law Professor Richard “Rick” Frank (pictured above), director of the law school’s California Environmental Law and Policy Center, welcomed a full house, which included Professor Al Lin, alum Kirk Trost `86, many prominent environmental law attorneys, scientists, students, and others. Soon after, Governor Brown talked about the important history of the Air Resources Board and its positive impacts on air quality and the environment generally. Governor Brown noted that much more work remained to be done and that partnerships between government, academia, and the private sector were necessary.
Next, King Hall student Emily Roberts ’18 (pictured below) offered a warm and wonderful introduction of CARB Chair Mary Nichols, a legendary champion for the environment. Much of the rest of the afternoon was devoted to talking about the challenges – political and otherwise – facing American society today in terms of protecting our environment.
