TAX REFORM IN A TIME OF WARMING -- Feb. 27 (Wednesday) -- Two UC Davis professors are on the program of a half-day conference that examines the California tax system, which was largely fixed in place during the Great Depression in an industrial economy unconcerned with environmental sustainability. Economist Steve M. Sheffrin, dean of social sciences, will discuss "The Implications of the New California Economy for State Revenue Policy." Christopher Knittel, associate professor of economics, will discuss "Using Carbon/Environmental Taxation to Meet AB32 Global-Warming Goals." The conference is hosted by the New America Foundation and the University of California Center in Sacramento. It will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the CSAC Conference Center, 11th Street between J and K, Sacramento. Public information: Claudie Bustamante, (916) 448-5189, bustamante@newamerica.net. Media contact: Claudia Morain, News Service, (530) 734-9049, cmmorain@ucdavis.edu.
NEW ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS -- Feb. 27 (Wednesday) -- UC Davis graduates Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus wrote an article three years ago calling for "the death of environmentalism" and the birth of a new movement based on a new kind of politics, one focused not on limits or complaints but on aspirations and possibility. In 2007, they wrote a book, "Break Through: From the Death of Environmentalism to the Politics of Possibility." Now they are back on campus for a presentation and book signing hosted by the John Muir Institute of the Environment. The free, public event, "Breakthrough Politics for Global Warming," will be held at 4 p.m. in Room 3001 of the Plant and Environmental Sciences Building. Public information: http://johnmuir.ucdavis.edu/events/breakthrough.html. Media contact: Sylvia Wright, News Service, (530) 752-7704, swright@ucdavis.edu.
CLIMATE LAW -- Feb. 29 (Friday) -- The UC Davis Environmental Law Society and the Journal for International Law and Policy will co-host a symposium for lawyers, professors, professionals, law students and graduate students on the future of international environmental law and climate change. The symposium will be held 9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. in Wilkins Moot Courtroom of King Hall at UC Davis. Public information: http://www.law.ucdavis.edu/news/event.aspx?id=1497. Media contact: Claudia Morain, News Service, (530) 734-9049, cmmorain@ucdavis.edu.
LAKE TAHOE MANAGEMENT -- March 17-19 (Monday-Wednesday) -- UC Davis scientists from the Tahoe Environmental Research Center will be presenters at the Fourth Biennial Tahoe Basin Science Conference. The program is designed for agency representatives, scientists, stakeholders and decision-makers. It will be held at the Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences and the Hyatt Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, both in Incline Village, Nev. Public information: http://www.nvwra.org/events.asp. Media contact: Sylvia Wright, News Service, (530) 752-7704, swright@ucdavis.edu
ROSE DAY -- April 25 (Friday) -- The U.S. rose industry is calling Rose Day at UC Davis "the rose event of the year." Home gardeners, rose enthusiasts and industry leaders will gather to learn about rose production, hybridization, marketing, and pest and disease issues. Conference registration ($150) includes a groundcover rose plant, campus parking, lunch and a tour of Foundation Plant Services' eight acres of rose plantings. From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., rose plants will be for sale to conference attendees as well as the general public (at FPS, on the southwest corner of Hopkins Road and Straloch Road). Proceeds will benefit the programs of the California Center for Urban Horticulture at UC Davis. Public information: http://ccuh.ucdavis.edu/events. Media contact: Sylvia Wright, News Service, (530) 752-7704, swright@ucdavis.edu.
CLIMATE CHANGE IN YOUR YARD -- May 30-31 (Friday-Saturday) -- The California Center for Urban Horticulture at UC Davis will host the first-ever conference on the possible effects of climate change on home and community landscapes. Topics for the conference include: water use, conservation and runoff; regionally appropriate plant selection and landscape design; planting to use less energy and reduce greenhouse gases; carbon sequestration; and carbon credits. The CA&ES Global Climate Change and Your Backyard Conference includes a panel discussion moderated by Ira Flatow of National Public Radio and a keynote address by Katy Moss Warner, president emeritus of the American Horticultural Society. Conference registration ($125 for UC Davis Arboretum members and master gardeners; others $150) includes parking and lunches. Public information: http://ccuh.ucdavis.edu/events. Media contact: Sylvia Wright, News Service, (530) 752-7704, swright@ucdavis.edu.
AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY -- Sept. 14-18 (Sunday-Thursday) -- In celebration of UC Davis' 100th anniversary, the campus will host an international conference focused on agricultural biodiversity -- the concept that it is important to make use of and conserve a variety of plant and animal species in commercially viable agricultural operations. Opening keynote speaker for the symposium will be noted evolutionary biologist and author Jared Diamond. Also delivering a keynote address will be Gary Nabhan, a pioneer of the local-food movement. Public information: http://harlanii.ucdavis.edu. Media contact: Pat Bailey, News Service, (530) 752-9843, pjbailey@ucdavis.edu.