Recent Announcements

Famed California historian and University Professor Kevin Starr recently accepted the role of Senior Adviser to the Global Director. Professor Starr will provide strategic council to Governor Schwarzenegger and Global Director Reiss as well as oversee independent research projects and collaborations that support the overall mission of the Schwarzenegger Institute. In addition, Richard Costigan, John Danielson, Ian Duncan, and Kathay Feng have all agreed to the join the Institute's advisory board. All four have worked closely with the Schwarzenegger Institute since its founding in 2012 and join our other advisers in bring substantial public policy knowledge and experience to the organization.

Nominate yourself or a fellow USC student for the Schwarzenegger Institute Spotlight Award and show how you or any USC student is an inspirational example of the power of one person to make a difference and “Be the Change." Find the Nomination Form Here!

The Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) hosted their 4th Annual Energy and Sustainability Summit at Oracle and featured thought leaders from academia, government, and business, including Institute Global Director Bonnie Reiss. The Summit addressed the historic climate agreement reached at COP21 in Paris in December 2015 and the passage of new climate laws in California like SB 350. The Summit focused on utilizing cutting edge innovative technologies and what can be done on a practical level to prepare for a changing policy and regulatory landscape.

A new survey of Californians likely to vote in the state's upcoming June 7 presidential primary examines the issues voters in the nation's largest state consider most important when deciding whom to support for president. The study was conducted on behalf of the USC Schwarzenegger Institute by The Field Poll.

Schwarzenegger Institute Global Director Bonnie Reiss was invited as a special guest at European Union consul generals' strategy meeting. Director Reiss provided an overview on the Institute’s work and participated in a wide ranging public policy discussion that touched on trade, education and criminal justice but mainly focused on climate change issues.

On March 30th the USC Schwarzenegger Institute released two research reports showing that political reforms like those passed by voters in California in 2008 and 2010 can reduce political polarization in legislative bodies and prompt candidates to more actively engage voters across party lines.

For the first time since Los Angeles County was established in 1850, three women hold its top positions of leadership. The USC Price School of Public Policy’s Athenian Society hosted those women - L.A. County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda Solis, CEO Sachi Hamai and County Counsel Mary Wickham – for a Dean’s Speaker Series event, moderated by Schwarzenegger Institute Global Director Bonnie Reiss, highlighting the impact that female leaders have in the policy arena.

This month the USC Schwarzenegger Institute continued its focus on climate change - with a particular focus on carbon emissions trading. The Institute hosted Dr. Ian Duncan, Member of the European Parliament, and lead author on the Parliament's report exploring reforms to the European Union’s carbon emissions trading scheme. Joining Dr. Duncan were leaders from across California that helped develop and manage the State’s successful cap and trade program.

With three days remaining for the COP21 to reach an accord, negotiators are working hard to overcome final obstacles being raised by some nations. Achieving consensus from the 195 nations participating in the COP21 is quite a challenge. If you can imagine any state or national governing body having 100% of their members agree on anything you can begin to understand the daunting challenge faced by summit negotiators.

On Monday in Paris at the COP21 climate summit progress continues on plans to reduce emissions and create a renewable energy future. Schwarzenegger urged national leaders to ignore the naysayers but to keep focused on their positive vision for the future, powered by renewable energy. He used California as an example of what is possible when sub-national governments act. Schwarzenegger commended the UN for recognizing the important role they play and for including cities, states and regions in negotiations for the first time. Schwarzenegger also spoke to students in a packed lecture hall at Sciences Po University,and pumped up them up telling them how important they are in the crusade to address climate change, one of the most significant issue facing their generation.

Institute and R20 release research reports on two of the most significant topics being focused on at COP 21: the power of climate action at the sub-national level, and accelerating investments in green technologies.

The Institute, in partnership with the USC Environmental Student Assembly, hosts Dr. Per Espen Stoknes, prominent author, economist and organizational psychologist, on how to talk about climate change. President of Climate Action Reserve Gary Gero was also hosted by the SI and the ESA in order to brief the USC student community on the upcoming UN Summit, COP21, in Paris. In addition, Institute Global Director Bonnie Reiss participates in UC Conference on Carbon Neutrality where a landmark report was announced.

As Governor Schwarzenegger, the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and our partners at the R20 prepare to participate at the UN’s COP 21 in Paris in December we are continuing our collaborations with other regions and leaders throughout the world to advance policy solutions. The Institute was proud to host the Austrian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, Andrae Rupprechter

With California in the fourth year of a record drought that resulted in Gov. Jerry Brown ordering mandatory water restrictions earlier this month for the first time in the state’s history, an all-star group of state leaders including government, agriculture, environment, business and academia, gathered at USC for a timely discussion titled “The New Reality: Addressing California’s Water Challenge.”

Former Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger led a National After-School Summit at the University of Southern California on March 24 to call for a unified voice telling Congress not to terminate federal funding for after-school programs and to announce that he's launching a movement for every student to have the opportunity for the adult supervision and life-enrichment these programs provide.

In our unwavering battle against global climate change, we are fortunate to claim some of today’s most innovative and pioneering leaders as fighting on our team. Among them are Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor Jerry Brown, California Senator Kevin De Leon, Mary Nichols, Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Lisa Jackson and Ed Begley Jr. It was very fitting that these pioneers came together on September 8,2014.

When asked what young people can do to fix their government in the face of crippling gridlock, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger urged the crowd to look no further than the work of USC’s own students. The discussion took place as the USC Schwarzenegger Institute convened a symposium titled Government and Leadership: People Over Politics. The symposium featured two provocative conversations with advocates from across the political spectrum in support of a common goal: to fight political gridlock and make democracy work for the people.